Tonga on alert for Cyclone Wilma [1]
Sunday, January 23, 2011 - 16:30. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
Fua'amotu, Tonga:
Special Weather Bulletin Number Five for Tonga on Tropical Cyclone Wilma issued from National Weather Forecasting Centre, Fua'amotu, at 1:05pm Sunday 23 January 2011.
A tropical cyclone alert
A tropical cyclone alert is now in force for Niuafo'ou, Niuatoputapu, Vava'u and Ha'apai groups.
A strong wind warning remains in force for the rest of Tonga.
Tropical Cyclone Wilma (Category 1) center was located near 11 decimal 5 south 170 decimal 6 west or about 285km north north east of Apia or about 600km northeast of Niuatoputapu or about 850km north northeast of Vava'u at 10:00am this morning.
Close to its centre the cyclone is expected to have average winds up to 35knots with momentary gusts up to 50 knots. The cyclone is moving east north east at 10kts but is expected to turn south later today and southwest later. On its forecast track the cyclone may bring damaging gale force winds over Niuafo'ou, Niuatoputapu, Vava'u and Ha'apai with in the next
24-48hrs
For Niuafo'ou, Niuatoputapu, Vava'u and Ha'apai group: east to northeast winds 20 to 25 knots increasing to 30 to 40 knots in the next 24-48hrs. Rain developing, becoming heavy at times with squally thunderstorms from tomorrow with flooding including sea flooding of low lying areas.
For the rest of Tonga:
Easterly winds fresh and gusty becoming strong with rain developing becoming heavy at times with squally thunderstorms and flooding including sea flooding of low lying areas expectedfrom tuesday
This information is provided for the mariners:
For Niuafo'ou, Niuatoputapu, Vava'u and Ha'apai waters. Expect east to northeast winds 15 to 20 knots increasing to 30 to 40 knots from early tomorrow; seas becoming very rough to high, damaging heavy northeasterly swells.
Elsewhere: easterly winds up to 15 knots, increasing to 25 knots from tomorrow. Seas becoming rough with heavy northerly swells.
Tides
Low tide 04:15pm
High tide 10:25pm
Mean sea level pressure recorded at Fua'amotu at 1:00pm was 1003.4 millibars with 1002.3 millibars at both Vava'u and Ha'apai.
The next special weather bulletin for Tonga on Tropical Cyclone Wilma will be issued around 07:00pm Sunday 23 January. - National Weather Forecasting Centre, Fua'amotu.