It was wet underfoot for Christmas shoppers in Nuku‘alofa this morning as a band of cloud brought showers to the capital.
The warm wet weather did not deter last minute shoppers and outdoor market places were busy, with traffic queues slow moving throughout the morning on Vuna Road and Taufa'ahau Road in the CBD.
The Fua'amotu Weather Forecasting Centre expects more cloudy and wet weather for Tonga over the next two days.
The Fua'amotu weather bulletin issued at 1:00 on Christmas Eve, 24 December, reported that an an active trough lies to the North of the Niuas, which is expected to move Southwards and affect the Niuas by tomorrow. Associated clouds with occasional showers may affect the Niuas by tomorrow. Meanwhile, a South to Southeast wind flow prevails over most part of Tonga.
Fiji Meteorological Service
Meanwhile, further to the North North East of Tonga, the RSMC Nadi- Tropical Cyclone Centre is monitoring a slow moving Tropical Disturbance named TD03F that is forming near Tuvalu.
“Global models are picking up this system and gradually moving it southwards with further deepening and intensifying to a Tropical Cyclone.”
The potential for this system to develop into a tropical cyclone in the next two days is moderate to high, reports www.met.gov.fj.
The centre [1002 HPS [1002HPA] was analysed near 07.5S 173.0E at 232230UTC.
Tonga Forecasts
The forecast to midnight tomorrow for Tonga:
For the Niuas:
Light South to Southeast winds, variable at times.
Partly cloudy with possible light showers. Becoming cloudy tomorrow with occasional showers, possibly heavy at times with isolated thunderstorms.
For the rest of Tonga:
Light to moderate South to Southeast winds. Becoming East to Southeast winds by tomorrow.
Partly cloudy with scattered showers.
Outlook for Thursday
For the Niuas:
Light to moderate North to Northeast winds, fresh at times.
Mostly cloudy with occasional showers, possibly heavy at times with isolated thunderstorms.
For the rest of Tonga:
Light to moderate East to Northeast winds, fresh at times.
Partly cloudy periods with showers.
Temperature forecast for Nuku'alofa
Maximum for today : 29C
Minimum for tonight: 24C
Marine weather bulletin
Forecast to midnight tomorrow for all Tonga coastal waters
For all Tonga coastal waters:
South to Southeast winds 10-15 knots, variable of up to 10 knots at times.
Moderate to rough seas (up to 2.5 meters). A moderate Southwesterly swell (up to 2.5 meters).
Outlook for Thursday
For the Niuas coastal waters:
North to Northeast winds 10-15 knots, rising up to 20 knots at times.
Moderate to rough seas (up to 3 meters) . A moderate Southwesterly swell (up to 2 meters).
For rest of Tonga coastal waters:
East to Northeast winds 10-15 knots, rising up to 20 knots at times.
Moderate to rough seas (up to 3 meters). A moderate Southwesterly swell (up to 2 meters).
Tide prediction
High tide 06:00pm (this afternoon)
Low tide 12:30am (early tomorrow morning)
Sun and moon
Moonset 06:20pm (this afternoon)
Sunset 07:22pm (this evening)
The mean sea level pressure recorded at Fua'amotu Airport at 01:00pm was 1008.2 millibars and the relative humidity was 87%.
