Easter weekend downpours dropped 104mm of rain over Tongatapu between 7:00am and 1:00pm today, 31 March, causing flooding in low lying areas of Nuku'alofa.

The Tonga Meteorological Centre at Fua'amotu said the heavy rainfall is not unusual for Tongatapu at this time of the year.

A heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory remains in force for Ha'apai, Tongatapu and 'Eua, according to Met's spot weather report at 7:00pm today.

A trough of  low pressure lies slow moving over Vava'u, Ha'apai and Tongatapu and 'Eua. Tonga Met expects the rain over Tongatapu will gradually ease off by Monday.

Tonga’s rainy season runs from November 2017 until the end of April.

Meanwhile, Fiji Met reported that tropical depression (TD12F) was located 365km west of Nadi at 3:00pm today, moving east- south east and expected to pass southwest of the group tonight. It has the potential to develop into a category 1 cyclone bringing gales to southern Fiji islands including Kadavu, Lau and Lomaiviti Group.