A strong wind warning remains in force for the Niuas and is now in force for Vava’u land areas and coastal waters.

At 1:00pm today, TC Mona was located 315km north-west of Nuku’alofa, 320km west of Neiafu, Vava’u, 280km west northwest of Ha'afeva and Nomuka, or 300 km west-northwest of Lifuka, Ha'apai. The Category 1 cyclone is moving south-southeast at a speed of around 24km/hr or 12 knots. 

A heavy damaging swell advisory remains in force for all Tonga coastal waters.

A heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory remains in force for all of Tonga land areas.

The outlook for Tongatapu, ‘Eua, and Ha’apai, is east to southeast winds of 15-20 knots (30-40km/hr) with momentary gusts up to 35-40 knots or 75-80km/hr at times by tonight and early tomorrow morning. It will be mostly cloudy and overcast with occasional showers, possibly heavy at times with rough to very rough seas and a heavy damaging southeasterly swell. There will be poor visibility in the area of heavy rain and thunderstorm.

For the Niuas and Vava'u, winds are also expected to increase later this evening from 15-20 knots (30-40km/hr) to strong winds of 25-30 knots (50-60km/hr). It will be mostly cloudy with occasional showers possibly heavy at times with isolated thunderstorms, rough seas, and a heavy damaging northerly swell. There will be poor visibility in areas of heavy rain and thunderstorms.

In the meantime, an active trough of low pressure system lies slow moving between the Niuas and Vava’u. Associated clouds with periods of heavy rain and strong to gale force winds will affect the group.