This year is hotter than last year in Tonga, with the two hottest days so far this year in Tongatapu recorded on January 12-13, when the temperature reached 33 degrees celsius with 96% humidity.

Tonga'’s chief Meteorological officer, 'Ofa Fa'anunu, said that since then the temperature had dropped slightly, stabilising at around 30 degrees, with a slightly higher humidity. The hottest day this month was last Sunday, February 6 at 30.9 degrees, with a 99% humidity.

'Ofa said that this year'’s rainy season was a month late, beginning at the end of December. Normally the rainy season begins at the end of November and ends in early April, but since it started later this year in early December it may mean that we won'’t see the end of the hot humid weather until the end of April.

'Ofa said that so far this year is hotter than last year. The highest temperature recorded last year was 30 degree Celsius. '‘Ofa predicted that the temperature for the rest of the rainy season to remain at 30 degrees Celsius.