Tonga's Meteorological Services recorded 40mm of rain at Fua'amotu, while 52mm was recorded in Nuku'alofa between about 1am to 10am this morning. The average rainfall for the month of September is 120mm.

Moleni Tu'uholoaki Tonga's Acting Director of Meteorology said this afternoon that the rain recorded this morning was significant and unusual because one third of this month's average rainfall was dumped in less than 24 hours as Tonga is in its dry season which runs from May-October.

He said this weather system also saw a significant change in temperature. "At 9:00am this morning we recorded the temperature at 22 degrees celcius but at 10:00am it fell to18 degrees celcius. This is a big change in the temperature in just one hour," he said.

Fua’amotu’s 11:00am weather forecast to midnight tomorrow for Tongatapu and ‘Eua is overcast with occasional rain heavy at times with isolated thunderstorms. While cloudy periods and brief showers is forecasted for the rest of the kingdom.

Drought

Meanwhile, a drought warning remains in force for Vava'u, Ha'apai and Niuatoputapu issued by the Meteorological Services in August.

"In these areas the rainfall for June 2012 has been below normal, and it has been extremely low for July 2012. This condition is expected to continue for the next three months. Therefore, all water tanks users in these areas are advised to manage their water usage properly as less rainfall is expected to continue from September to November 2012.

"This is because of the increasing in the chance of the occurrence of an El Nino, a condition that usually causes less rainfall over Tonga. Normal rainfall is expected for Tongatapu and Eua for these months," the weather office stated.