Saturday afternoon swimmers in Nuku'alofa were encouraged to go home, as Severe Tropical Cyclone Tino (Cat. 3) passed over southern Tonga today, and Tonga Police checked coastal areas in the capital as part of a civil defence operation.

A Hurricane Warning remains in force for all of Tonga.

On its current track STC Tino is expected to lie at about 40km South of Nomuka, Ha'apai, at 4:00pm this afternoon, according to the 1:00pm forecast from the Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre. Storm to Hurricane force winds will affect Vava'u, Ha'apai, Tongatpau and 'Eua, with heavy rain and thunderstorms at times. Tonga Met warned that TC Tino could bring momentary gusts of up to 90 knots (180km/hr) by tonight. The mean sea level pressure recorded at Fua'amotu at 1:00pm was 992.9 millibars and the relative humidity was 94%.

The National Emergency Management Office NEMO had received no reports of cylone-related injuries or destruction this afternoon, but are expected to receive outer island reports later today.

Vava'u

Strong destructive winds were reported in Vava'u this afternoon, with huge gusts coming in from the North and coinciding with the high tide.

“Gusts are roaring though at about 90-100 knots” said Tupoutu'a Tonutonu at the 'Utulei My Tongan Home B&B beach.

“It's been bucketing down for about three days, the soil is waterlogged and I'm hearing trees are down in the village.”

Tupoutu'a said the huge gusts of wind were whipping up water wisps on the harbour, but the conditions had not deterred storm swimmers who were still having fun. “They are keeping an eye on each other!”