Vava‘u and Ha‘apai brace for battering from Cat 4 Tropical Cyclone Ian [1]
Friday, January 10, 2014 - 20:00. Updated on Friday, January 10, 2014 - 20:03.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Ian heading towards Vava‘u and Ha‘apai, has islanders hunkering down and expecting a battering from the Category 4 storm that is forecast to bring destructive winds over central Tonga overnight, with gusts of 80 to 115 knots at times.
At 7:00 pm, Neiafu residents reported heavy rain with gusty winds, as Tropical Cylone Ian moves closer toward the Vava‘u Group.
Tonga’s Fua’amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC), located Tropical Cyclone Ian 165km northwest of Vava’u and 250km northwest of Ha’apai at 4 pm today moving south-southeast with estimated winds of 90 knots near its centre and momentary gusts up 125 knots. On its current track Fua‘amotu TCWC warned that Ian may bring very destructive hurricane force winds to Vava’u in the next 6-12 hours, and Ha’apai in the next 12-18 hours.
A seafront home-owner, Tupou Tonutonu, at ‘Utulei Village, Vava‘u, said they were bracing for something strong, the village was boarded up and the boats were out of the water.
“The police car came by at 4:00pm to make sure everyone was boarding up, and we have taken the gutters out of our watertanks so we won’t get salt water in there. The disaster relief people are out in force and all police and soldiers on leave have been called back to work.” She said a Tongan navy patrol boat was in the Port of Refuge harbour standing by to offer support.
“Luckily, we have had daylight to get prepared and everyone has finished their Uike Lotu now. They are going home into their own cosy places as the wind's picking up.” The wind was blowing from the north east and there was still a bit of blue sky at 6:30pm, said Tupoutu‘a. “I'm out cutting flowers before they are destroyed by the storm.”
Tongatapu may also face damaging gale force winds in the next 12-18 hours. Responding to the gales warning, some Nuku‘alofa businesses were this evening boarding up their windows for the weekend.
Gale force wind warnings that were made yesterday for Niuafo’ou were cancelled today as Tropical Cyclone Ian routed southeast towards Vava'u.