Tonga breezy as Winston moves away [1]
Monday, February 22, 2016 - 10:53
Tropical Cyclone Winston, category 4, was continuing to move west, away from Tonga and Fiji, at 14km per hour (8 knots) after directly hitting Fiji over the weekend with hurricane force winds.
TC Winston is expected to remain a category 4 cyclone today and with a forecast track turning south to south east, according to the RSMC Nadi Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre at 7:23am today.
Meanwhile, Tonga is enjoying moderate to fresh winds with showers after the storms of last week.
The weather forecast for Tonga, issued from Tonga National Weather Forecasting Center, at Fua'amotu at 7:00am today, Monday 22 February 2016:
Situation:
Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, category 4, was located near 17.6 south and 173.2 east at 1:00am today. The cyclone is moving west at 14km/hr (8 knots). Meanwhile a trough lies slow moving between Vava'u and the Niuas. Associated cloud and showers continue to affect the group.
Forecast to midnight tonight for Tonga
For Vava'u, Ha’apai, Tongatapu and 'Eua:
Moderate to fresh east to southeast winds strong at times.
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers heavy at times, especially Vava'u.
For the Niuas:
Light to moderate west winds variable at times.
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers.
Outlook for Tuesday:
For Vava'u, Ha’apai,Tongatapu and 'Eua:
Moderate east to southeast winds.
Mostly cloudy with possible isolated showers.
For the Niuas:
Light to moderate east to southeast winds variable at times.
Cloudy with scattered showers.
Temperature forecast for Nuku'alofa:
Max : 27 degrees celcius today.
Min : 24 degrees celcius tonight.
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Marine weather bulletin:
A strong wind warning remains in force for Teleki-Tonga, Teleki-Tokelau,Tongatapu,'Eua,
Vava'u and Ha’apai coastal waters.
A heavy damaging swell warning remains in force for all Tonga coastal waters.
Forecast to midnight tonight for all Tonga coastal waters:
For Teleki-Tonga, Telekitokelau, Tongatapu,'Eua, Vava'u and Ha’apai coastal waters:
East to southeast winds 25-30 knots rising up to 35 knots at times.
Rough to very rough seas. A heavy damaging east to southeast swell.
For the two Niuas coastal waters:
West to northwest winds 10-15 knots.
Moderate seas. Moderate west to northwest swell.
Outlook for Tuesday:
For Teleki-Tonga, Telekitokelau, Tongatapu,'Eua, Vava'u and Ha’apai coastal waters:
East to southeast winds 25-30 knots rising up to 35 knots at times. Rough to very rough seas. A heavy damaging east to southeast swell.
For the two Niuas coastal waters:
East to southeast winds 10-15 knots.
Moderate seas. Moderate west to northwest swell.
Tide predictions:
High tide : 07:25am
Low tide : 01:25pm
The mean sea level pressure recorded at Fua'amotu at 7:00am was 1010.2 millibars and the
Relative humidity was 82%.