Cyclone warning cancelled [1]
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 - 14:51. Updated on Thursday, February 5, 2015 - 21:14.
After thunderstorms and heavy rains eased this afternoon, a Tropical Cyclone Warning previously in force for Ha'apai, Tongatapu and 'Eua was cancelled and replaced by a strong wind warning.
A final Special Weather Bulletin (Number Seven) issued from the National Weather Forecasting Centre, Fua'amotu at 1:30pm Wednesday 28 January 2009 stated that a strong wind warning was still in force for the whole of Tonga.
A tropical depression located about 220 km west northwest of Tongatapu at 10:00am today was moving south southwest at about 8 knots. On this forecast track the depression is moving away from Tonga and is weakening.
The forecasters expect northwest to northeast winds 25 to 30 knots gusting to 50 knots about the Ha'apai, Tongatapu and 'Eua groups today but gradually decreasing.
For the Niuas and vava'u expect north to northwest winds 15 to 25 knots.
Rain will be heavy at times with squally thunderstorms. Very rough seas with heavy northwesterly swells. Poor visibility in heavy rain and flooding is possible over lowlying areas especially at high tide at 9:00pm.