Tropical Cyclone "Rae" has intensified into a Category 2 system, west of Tonga, and is expected to gradually intensify into a Tropical Cyclone Category 3 in the next 24 hours, moving south southwest.
Tonga Met advised at 7:30am today that, “TC Rae is expected to gradually intensify into a Tropical Cyclone Category 3 in the next 24 hours. Associated clouds with heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong to gale force winds will affect the Niuas, while strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms extend onto Vava'u, Ha'apai, Tongatapu and 'Eua.”
At 6:00am this morning, 24 February 2025 the system was located near latitude 16.7 South and longitude 179.1 West, or about 390 km west southwest of 'Esia (Niuafo'ou), or 575km west of Hihifo (Niuatoputapu), or 585km west northwest of Neiafu (Vava'u), or 610km northwest of Pangai (Haapai), or 640km northwest of Nukualofa (Tongatapu), or 680km northwest of Ohonua (Eua) at 6am this morning.
A Tropical Cyclone Advisory for Tonga issued by the Fua’amotu Tropical Cyclone warning centre at 7:30am, advised that a Tropical Cyclone Warning remains in force for Niuafo'ou and Niuatoputapu, while a Tropical Cyclone Alert remains in force for Vava'u and Ha’apai.
Tonga Met said that the system has sustained winds of 50-55 knots (100-110km/hr) near the centre and gusts up to 70-75 knots (140-150 km/hr). The system is currently moving south southwest at the speed of 8 knots (16km/hr).
Warnings for land areas and coastal waters:
- A heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory remains in force for all of Tonga land areas.
- A Gale warning remains in force for Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou land areas.
- A Strong wind warning remains in force for Vava'u, Ha’apai, Tongatapu and 'Eua land areas.
- A Gale warning, heavy damaging swell and small craft advisory remains in force for Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou coastal waters.
- A Gale warning and small craft advisory remains in force for Vava'u and Ha’apai coastal waters.
- A Strong Wind warning and small craft advisory remains in force for Tongatapu, 'Eua, Tele-ki-Tonga and Tele-ki-Tokelau coastal waters.
