Results for Tonga

The latest Tropical Cyclone Advisory (No. 29) for Tonga on Tropical Cyclone Winston issued by the Fua’amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre at 4.30 pm Friday, 19 February 2016 has downgraded a storm warning to gales for Vava'u, Niuatoputapu, Niuafo’ou and Ha’apai. A strong wind warning remains in force for Tongatapu and ‘Eua.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel Russel, will travel to Apia, Samoa; Nuku'alofa, Tonga; and Koror, Palau, February 20-25, for bilateral meetings and regional consultations. Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Admiral Scott Swift will accompany Assistant Secretary Russel.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, Category 4, at noon today was located about 140km north-northwest of Neiafu, Vava’u. Various weather models forecast the dangerous storm moving toward Fiji over the weekend.

The very large Tropical Cyclone Winston (Cat. 4) currently has hurricane force winds across its 150kms diameter and the intensifying storm might become a high Cat. 4 – or even Cat. 5, sometime before midday Friday, north of Vava’u, warns Tonga Met. NEMO was meeting this afternoon and may possibly declare a state of emergency for Tonga later today, based on emerging models of the intensifying and dangerous storm.

Tourism Tonga has new management staff on board with Mana Kite as Acting General Manager and Seini Taumoepeau as Acting Marketing Manager. The appointments were made by the Tonga Tourism Authority Board.

Celebrating 25 years in business on February 15, the staff and management of ‘Uta’atu & Associates, certified public accountants and management consultants, got together with clients, suppliers and alumni of the firm at the Waves Café on the Nuku’alofa seafront.

An international rugby test match between Tonga's ‘Ikale Tahi and Wales at Teufaiva Stadium in early 2017 is now in doubt. There is uncertainty over whether the upgrading of the stadium will be completed in time, the Prime Minister Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva told the Tongan parliament yesterday, 15 February. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

A California based environmentalist group, Ethical Traveler, included Tonga in its annual list of ‘The World’s Ten Best Ethical Destinations’. It wasn’t all praise, however.

A Tonga National Emergency Coordination Centre was activated today in response to Tropical Cyclone Winston, after a meeting was told that Cyclone Winston, category 2 poses a direct threat to Ha’apai and Vava’u, and also that there is a likelihood that the cyclone could turn around after passing Vava’u and head back toward Tongatapu and ‘Eua.