Results for Natural events

Summer rainfall in Tonga is expected to be severely diminished with only half the expected monthly rainfall in some places, Tonga's Meteorological director warned today, after assessing the latest El Niño forecasts which show El Niño this year is the strongest since the 1997-98 events which caused severe drought and a cyclone.

A VHF radio installed at the Neiafu Police Station yesterday August 31, will assist with emergency responses over land and sea in Vava'u. The VHF system covers the archipelago of Vava'u and 40 nautical miles.

With Tonga currently experiencing El Nino drier than normal conditions is expected over the next three to six months and people are advised to conserve water. El NIno brings cooler nights, with 13.2C on July 19 at Fua'amotu the lowest temperature recorded for July.

Pacific Ministers for Meteorology, meeting in Nuku'alofa this week to consider the resilience of Pacific communities to extreme weather events, heard that the Pacific Islands region can expect an increase in the intensity of extreme weather - posing critical challenges to our safety, security and existence.

With Tonga currently experiencing El Nino's drier and cooler weather there is a need for people to conserve water and use it wisely, advises Tonga’s Meteorological and Coast Radio Services.

A cluster of three large earthquakes were reported between Niuatoputapu and Samoa this evening between 8:56pm and 9:48pm - measuring 6.8, 6.4 and 5.6 magnitude.

With below average rainfall expected over the next three-months, drought warnings remain in force for the whole of the Tonga group, and the public is advised to use water wisely and collect as much rainwater as possible during the current peak of the rainy season. However, the El Nino warning previously in force for Tonga has now been downgraded to an El Nino watch.

The volcanic eruption between the islands of Hunga-Ha’apai and Hunga-Tonga appears to be over, leaving behind a tiny island of volcanic ash, a third expedition to the area has reported.

Continuous eruptions are creating a new island between Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha’apai, 65 km from Nuku'alofa, Tonga's Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources reports. “The eruption of ash and tephra continues, but in recent days the ash has been limited to low elevations,” their fourth advisory stated on January 15.