Strong to damaging gale force winds, and scattered thunderstorms, with heavy rain, will affect the Tongatapu, Vava'u, Ha'apai, and 'Eua group by today, until the weekend, Tonga Meteorology forecasts.
A gale warning is in force for all of Tonga land areas, with heavy rain warnings, and flash flood advisory remain in force for Tongatapu, Vava'u, Ha'apai, and 'Eua.
Meanwhile, Lulutai Airline cancelled all their flights today due to the bad weather.
Tropical Disturbance (TD) 04F was located near latitude 16.6 south and longitude 179.4 east or about 765km northwest of Nuku'alofa at 8:00am this morning, Tonga Meteorology reported. This system is expected to approach the group this afternoon, Friday 26 January.
The forecast to midnight tomorrow for Tongatapu, Vava'u, Ha'apai, and 'Eua, is moderate to fresh north to northwesterly winds, strong at times. Becoming fresh to strong, momentary gusts up to gale force wind at times later in the evening and tonight.
Meanwhile, cloudy and overcast with occasional rain, heavy at times with isolated thunderstorms. "Possible flooding in low lying areas due to heavy rain."
Niuas
For the Niuas, is moderate to fresh north to northwest winds, strong at times. Becoming fresh to strong, momentary gust up to gale force wind at times later in the evening and tonight.
Cloudy and overcast with occasional rain, heavy at times and isolated thunderstorm, with possible flooding in low lying areas due to heavy rain.
Outlook: For the Niuas, is fresh to strong northwesterly winds, overcast with heavy occasional rain and isolated thunderstorms.
Tongatapu and 'Eua
The outlook for Saturday for Tongatapu and 'Eua, is moderate to fresh southwesterly winds, then gradually decreasing later in the morning. Mainly fine apart from cloudy periods with possible scattered showers later in the evening.
Vava'u and Ha'apai
For Vava'u and Ha'apai, fresh to strong northwesterly winds, then gradually decreasing and tending westerly later in the afternoon.
Cloudy and overcast with heavy occasional rain and isolated thunderstorm, becoming fine later in the afternoon over Ha'apai and in the evening for Vava’u.
Coastal waters warnings
A heavy damaging swell remains in force for all of Tonga's coastal waters.
A gale warning and small craft advisory remains in force for Tongatapu, Vava'u, Ha'apai, 'Eua, and the Niuas.
The forecast to midnight tomorrow for Tonga coastal waters, for the Niuas, a north to northwesterly winds 20-30 knots with momentary gust of up to 35 knots about afternoon.
Rough to very rough seas (up to 4 metres), and a heavy damaging northwesterly swell (up to 4 metres).
For Tongatapu, Vava'u, Ha'apai, and 'Eua coastal waters, is north to northwesterly winds 20-30 knots with momentary gusts up to 35-40 at times about this evening and tonight, with rough to very rough seas (up to 4 metres).
A heavy damaging northwesterly swell especially this evening (up to 4 metres).
For Tele-ki-Tonga and Tele-ki-Tokelau coastal waters, is southerly wind 15-20 knots, and moderate seas (up to 2 metres). A moderate southwesterly swell (up to 2 metres).
The outlook for Saturday for Niuas coastal waters, is northwesterly winds 20-30 knots, rising up to 35 knots at times. A rough to high seas (up to 4 metres), and a moderate northwesterly swell (up to 3 metres).
For Vava'u and Ha'apai coastal waters, is north to northwesterly winds 25-30 knots, with momentary gust up to 35-40 knots, then gradually decreasing and tending westerly in the afternoon 15-20 knots.
Rough to very rough seas (up to 4 metres) becoming moderate in the afternoon (up to 2 metres), and a moderate to damaging northwesterly swell (up to 3-4 metres) especially for Ha'apai coastal areas.
For Tongatapu and 'Eua coastal waters, is southwesterly winds 20-30 knots, with momentary gust up to 35 knots, then gradually decreasing later in the morning 15-20 knots.
A rough to very rough seas (up to 4 metres) becoming moderate in the afternoon (up to 2 metres).
A moderate northerly swell (up to 2.5 metres).
"Poor visibility in the areas of heavy rain and thunderstorm, Tonga Meteorology advised.
For Tele-ki-Tonga and Tele-ki-Tokelau coastal waters is southerly winds 15-20 knots. Moderate seas (up to 2 metres). A moderate southwesterly swells (up to 2 metres).
