A tropical cyclone warning for Niue, issued by RSMC Nadi this evening expects Severe Tropical Cyclone Victor with winds gusting up to 205 km/hr near its centre, to pass 330km to the south of Niue over the next 24-48 hours, moving on a westerly track toward southern Tonga. Forecasters state that mariners in Tongatapu and 'Eua coastal waters and for Telekitonga and Teletokelau coastal waters can expect rough to very rough seas and heavy damaging swells on Thursday, with strong and gusty winds at times.

In a special weather bulletin issued at 6:00pm this evening (Tonga time), RSMC Nadi stated that Severe Tropical Cyclone Victor centre 960hpa was located near 20 decimal 9 south 166 decimal 9 west or about 370km east-southeast of Niue at 190300 UTC.

Victor was moving south at about 11 km/hr. Close to its centre, the cyclone is estimated to have average sustained winds of 150 km/hr with momentary gusts to 205 km/hr.

On this track, the cyclone is expected to be located about 350km southeast at midnight 191500 UTC and about 330km south-southeast of Niue at 200300 UTC.

Destructive winds may begin several hours before the cyclone centre passes nearby.

For Niue:

For Niue the forecast is for winds increasing to damaging gale force with average speeds upto 75 km/hr and momentary gusts to 100km/hr from tomorrow. Occasional rain becoming frequent and heavy with squally thunderstorms from tomorrow. Damaging heavy swells with sea flooding of low-lying coastal areas.

Mariners can expect southeast winds 30 knots increasing to 40 knots with momentary gusts to 55 knots. Very rough to high seas. Damaging heavy swells.

Southern Cooks

RSMC Nadi also issued warnings for the Southern Cooks. A gale warning remains in force for Palmerston and a strong wind warning remains in force for the rest of Southern Cooks

Tonga

Meanwhile, Tonga's Fua'amotu Weather Forecasting Centre expects  a south to southeast windflow over Vava'u, Ha'apai, Tongatpau and 'Eua. On Thursday the winds are expected to become moderate to fresh which could be strong and gusty at times.

Mariners for Tongatapu and 'Eua coastal waters and for Telekitonga and Teletokelau coastal waters can expect rough to very rough seas and heavy damaging swells on Thursday. http://www.met.gov.to/index_files/routine_forecast.txt [2]