A strong wind warning with a heavy rain advisory is in force for Tonga as a Tropical Depression lies over the Fiji Group this morning, and is forecasted to develop into a Category 1 Tropical Cyclone as it moves towards Tonga within the next 48-hours over the weekend.

Moleni Tu'uholoaki, Senior Forecaster of Tonga's Fua'amotu Weather Forecasting Center, said they were closely monitoring the depression and had this morning issued strong wind warnings for all Tonga land areas and waters.

“We expect the depression to develop into a Tropical Cyclone by tomorrow night as it is forecasted to move closer to Tonga,” he said.

The Fua‘amotu Weather Center in an updated weather forecast at 9:30am issued the strong wind warning and heavy rain advisory for all Tonga land areas.

“The tropical depression TD15F lies over Fiji and is slowly moving north to northeast at 12km/h affecting the group with cloud bands and winds."

A strong wind warning and heavy damaging swells advisory was also issued for all Tonga waters with an extreme high tide advised.

Meanwhile, Nuku'alofa is experiencing heavy rain showers this morning.

Fiji

The Nadi Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre early this morning issued its first Tropical Cyclone Warning for the Fiji Group for the tropical depression in its waters.

A 6:00am this morning the depression was located about 170kms north to northeast of Labasa and was moving northeast at about 14km an hour.

Fiji also forecasted that the depression will become a Category 1 Tropical Cyclone within the next 48-hours when it is forecasted to be well south of Fiji moving closer to Tonga. Tropical Cyclone Forecast Track Map [2].

The Director of the Fiji Bureau of Meteorology Alipate Waqaicelua told Radio Australia that the indications were that the depression would possibly become a tropical cyclone later Saturday to early Sunday morning and by that time it should be on its way out of Fiji.

Climate advisor Neville Koop said the tropical depression was still likely to form into a cyclone, which is now expected to hit Tonga.

Flood warnings have been issued on the main island of Viti Levu with schools closed and non-essential government staff told to stay home.