The heaviest rain dumped in Tongatapu over a 24-hour period so far this year was recorded from February 15-16 causing flooding to homes and roads in low-lying areas.

Fua’amotu recorded 105.2mm of rain from 10:00pm Wednesday, February 15 to 10:00am today Thursday February 16, according to the Fua’amotu Weather Forecasting Centre.

At the Nuku’alofa station 119.4mm of rain was recorded over the same duration.

In February last year, the highest rainfall recorded for that month in a 24-hour period was 145mm of rain was recorded at Fua'amotu on February 14-15. The Nuku'alofa station had 192.8mm of rain.

However it was not until June 10-11 last year, that record rainfall turned Tongatapu's low lying areas into lakes.

Fua’amotu recorded 273.1mm of rain in the 24-hours from 1:00pm June 10 to 1:00pm June 11, 2016. It was reported that no rainfall for a 24-hour period in June had exceeded this amount in the last 36 years of records.

Advisory

Meanwhile, the heavy rain and flood advisory which was previously in force for Tongatapu and ‘Eua this morning was cancelled at 1:00pm. But the advisory remains in force for the two Niuas, Vava’u and Ha’apai.

This is due to Tropical Depression 12F which lay 21.6 South, 174.9W at approximately 50km south of 'Ohonua and 80km southeast of Nuku’alofa at 11:00am this morning.

It was moving southeast at 7 knots (12km/hrs.) bringing associated clouds and occasional rain that may affect the group.