Gale warning for Tonga today [1]
Thursday, January 15, 2009 - 07:49. Updated on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - 20:49.
A Gale warning remains in force for most of Tonga this morning, Thursday 15 January 2009, with gusts of up to 50 knots forecast as an active trough of low pressure lies slow moving across Tonga.
The Tonga Meteorological Services in a special weather bulletin number three for Tonga issued issued from NWFC Fua'amotu at 2:40am stated that the trough is associated with a tropical depression, which was located near 24.5S 176.5W or 740 km south southwest of Nuku'alofa at 1 am this morning. The depression is moving southeast at 10 knots and associated rain and strong winds continue to affect the kingdom.
The forecast expects west to northwest winds 20 to 30 knots, increasing to 30 to 35 knots at times with gusts to 50 knots over Vava'u, Ha'apai, Tongatapu and 'Eua. Elsewhere expect fresh west to northwest winds, strong and gusty at times.
The conditions are expected to ease later today with periods of heavy rain and squally thunderstorms about Vava'u, Ha'apai, Tongatapu and 'Eua.
There will be very rough seas with heavy northwesterly swells and poor visibility in heavy rain.
The next Special Weather Bulletin for Tonga will be issued around 8:30 am today, 15 January 2009, by the Tonga Meteorological Services.