UPDATED: At 2:00am on Tuesday, 31 December, Tropical Cyclone Sarai (Category 2) was tracking closer to Nuku'alofa than previously forecast. On its current track, Tropical Cyclone Sarai is expected to be located 90km west of Nuku'alofa at 7:00am Tuesday morning. Occasional rain and strong to gale force winds will continue to affect the group this morning. The maximum winds near its center are about 50 knots (100 km/hr) with momentary gusts of up to 60 knots (120km/hr).
Tropical cyclone advisory no. 20 for Tonga on Tropical Cyclone Sarai (category 2), issued from the Tonga Meteorological Service, Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre at Fua'amotu at 2:00am, Tuesday 31 December 2019.
Warnings for land areas and coastal waters:
- A gale warning remains inforce for Tongatapu and 'Eua land areas and coastal Tele-ki-tokelau coastal waters and is now in force for Vava'u and Ha'apai land areas.
- A heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory remains in force for all of Tonga
- A strong wind warning remains in force for the Niuas land areas and coastal waters
- A small craft advisory remains in force for all of Tonga coastal waters.
- A heavy damaging swell advisory is now in force for Vava'u, Ha'apai, Tongatapu, 'Eua, Tele-ki-Tonga and Tele-ki-tokelau coastal waters.
Situation:
Tropical Cyclone Sarai (category 2) was located near latitude 21.2 south, longitude 177.1 west or about, 195km west of Nuku'alofa, 220km west of 'Ohonua, 'Eua, 320km west southwest of Pangai, Ha'apai, 430km southwest of Neiafu, Vava'u, 645km south southwest of Niuafo'ou, 680km south southwest of Niuatoputapu at 10:00pm last night (Monday).
Tropical Cyclone Sarai is still moving east at the speed of 10 knots (20km/hr). The maximum winds near its center are about 50 knots (100 km/hr) with momentary gusts of up to 60 knots (120km/hr).
On its current track, TC Sarai is expected to lie at about 90km west of Nuku'alofa at 7:00am Tuesday morning. Occasional rain and strong to gale force winds will continue to affect the group this morning.
For Tongatapu, 'Eua, Tele-ki-Tonga and Tele-ki-tokelau:
- fresh to strong North to Northeast winds 20-30 knots (40-60km/hr), rising up to gale force winds at times 35-45 knots (70-90km/hr).
- Overcast with occasional rain, heavy at times with isolated thunderstorms. Rough to very rough seas (up to 4 meters).
- A heavy damaging southwesterly swell (4 to 6 meters).
- Mariners of small fishing boats for Tongatapu, 'Eua, Tele-ki-Tonga and Tele-ki-Tokelau coastal waters are hereby advised not to go out to the sea.
- Poor visibility in areas of heavy rain and thunderstorms.
For Ha'apai and Vava'u:
- Fresh to strong North to North-west winds 20-30 knots (40-60km/hr), rising up to gale force winds at times 35-45 knots (70-90km/hr).
- Mostly cloudy and overcast with occasional rain, heavy at times with isolated thunderstorms.
- Rough to very rough seas (up to 4 meters). A heavy damaging Northeasterly swell (4 to 6 meters).
- Mariners of small fishing boats for Ha'apai and Vava'u coastal waters are hereby advised not to go out to the sea.
- Poor visibility in areas of heavy rain and thunderstorms.
For the Niuas:
- Moderate to fresh North to North-west winds 15-20 knots (30-40km/hr), rising up to strong winds at times 25-30knots (50-60km/hr).
- Mostly cloudy and overcast with occasional rain, heavy at times with isolated thunderstorms.
- Moderate to rough seas (up to 3 meters). A moderate to heavy easterly swell (3 to 4 meters).
- Mariners of small fishing boats for the Niuas coastal waters are hereby advised not to go out to the sea.
- Poor visibility in areas of heavy rain and thunderstorms.
High tide: 05:05am (Tuesday morning)
Low tide: 11:30am (Tuesday morning)
The mean sea level pressure recorded at Fua'amotu Airport at 2:00am was 997.1 millibars and the relative humidity was 97%. The next tropical cyclone advisory on tropical cyclone warning for Sarai for Tonga will be issued about 5:00am Tuesday morning.
