A national tsunami marine warning issued at 11:12am today, Fri. January 14, warns Tongans to stay away from coastal areas, after swirling abnormal tides drew crowds to the Nuku'alofa waterfront in the last hour. Tonga Geological Services stated that a volcanic eruption is forecasted to be imminent with significant emission of ash into the atmosphere likely, following new activity observed at the Hunga volcano 65km off Nuku'alofa this morning. Tonga Police are currently patrolling the seafront Vuna Road in the capital and using loud speakers to ask people to move away to higher ground.
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Results for Natural events
Friday 14 January 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Monday 10 January 2022
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tropical Cyclone Cody (Cat.1) that developed from Tropical Depression TD03F this morning near Fiji, however, is not likely to pose a direct threat to Tonga island groups on its current track, Tonga Tonga Meteorological Services forecast today.
Thursday 6 January 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Geologists consider that the eruption at Hunga volcano has died down, after observations yesterday, showed no signs of the volcanic plume for over 36 hours. Meanwhile, dark pumice floats have washed up on Tongatapu's north western beaches.
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Thursday 6 January 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A tropical disturbance (TD03F) located north of Fiji, is forecast to track through southern Tonga waters (Tele-ki-Tokelau and Tele-ki-Tonga) by next Wednesday January 12, the Tonga Meteorological said today. The potential for this system to develop into a Tropical Cyclone in the next 24 to 48 hours is low.
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Tuesday 4 January 2022
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Seawater around the active Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano is contaminated with toxic volcanic discharge and local fishermen should assume that fish in these waters are poisonous, or poisonous if consumed, Tongan authorities warned today.
Tuesday 4 January 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A gale warning was upgraded to a storm warning for all Tongan coastal waters this afternoon. Extreme high tides at 8:50pm tonight are forecast to bring a heavy damaging swell up to 4-6 metres, driven by storm force winds, as an active trough continues to move slowly over Tonga.
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Wednesday 29 December 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano continues to erupt intermittently, the Tonga Geological Services said this morning, warning residents in Ha'apai to cover water reservoirs in case of acid rain that may be caused by volcanic emissions in the atmosphere.
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Friday 24 December 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Have a Merry Christmas and stay away from the hazardous Hunga volcano, the Tonga Geological Services advised the public today, warning that extreme hazards in the area up to five kilometres around the eruption, include possible explosions, surges, ballistic ejecta, tephra, lava domes, laze, vog, pumice shoals, volcanic edifice collapse and tsunamis.
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Thursday 23 December 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An explosive volcanic eruption shooting ash and pyroclastic material up to 350 metres above sea level was captured on camera yesterday, 22 Dec., by Tonga Navy crew, sailing close to the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai active volcano. However, ash was not detected at the height of aviation, Taaniela Kula (TGS) said, “this is a point of discussion with the authorities.”
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Thursday 23 December 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sulphur dioxide emitted from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano continues to spread over the Ha'apai, Vava'u and Niuatoutapu groups drifting NNE at a high altitude of 8-14km. Tonga Geological Services said S02 measured highest near the ‘Otumu‘omu‘a Group. However, the steam cloud formation from the eruption has reduced significantly from yesterday.
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Tuesday 21 December 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's erupting Hunga Ha'apai volcano put on a show of lightning at sunset tonight. As a large gaseous cloud continues to rise to 18km altitude and drift over all islands, Tongan residents were advised to protect their water tanks from possible acidic rainfall, until the volcanic eruption ceases.
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Tuesday 21 December 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Air New Zealand cancelled its flight from Auckland to Tonga late this morning due to concern over volcanic ash clouds close to Tongatapu, following a high level ash eruption at Hunga Tonga- Hunga Ha'apai detected over the last two days. Tonga's head geologist Taaniela Kula, confirmed this afternoon that an ash eruption started at about 9:35am yesterday, Monday, 20 Dec. and continued to 2:00am today, from Hunga Ha'apai, located about 65km from Nuku'alofa. A gaseous eruption is continuing intermittently.
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Friday 19 November 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A stunning and unusual moon rising high to the north of Nuku'alofa was clearly observable tonight in Tongatapu. The partial eclipse of the moon, ko e mate ʻa e māhina, began at 7:02pm, Friday 19 November, and ends at 01:03 Saturday morning Tonga time - a duration of 6 hours and 2 minutes.
Thursday 14 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
At least two tropical cyclones are predicted to cross Tonga waters during the 2021-2022 cyclone season, with a high chance that one will be severe, according to a new Cyclone Outlook issued by Tonga Meteorology Services today.
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Tuesday 13 July 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
When Pacific leaders joined forces last week ahead of a landmark COP26 climate summit - Tonga was not among them. The leaders from 11 Pacific Island nations met virtually with COP26 President Alok Sharma to set out their priorities for the major climate change summit in November.
Monday 29 March 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga may get average or above average rainfall for the next five months, according to the latest climate update from Tonga Meteorological Service released today.
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Tuesday 16 March 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Community consultations are underway in Vava’u to help Tonga Meteorological Services establish a Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) policy for the country. Meanwhile, a new Vava'u Emergency Coordination Centre will be opened tomorrow attended by King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau‘u.
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Wednesday 10 March 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
There is a 45% chance for at least one Tropical Cyclone to occur for the remainder Tonga's 2020/21 cyclone season, which ends on April 30. If this happens, there is a 25% chance it could be a severe one, says Tonga Met in its updated outlook for the season.
Friday 5 March 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
UPDATED: Tonga Met confirmed that a small tsunami wave of of 0.05m (0.2ft) was monitored at a Nuku'alofa tidal gauge at local time 10:29am (UTC 2129). The Niutoputapu tidal gauge also recorded 0.05m at 11:30am, following a series of severe earthquakes in the Kermadec Fault this morning. Waves generated by the earthquakes are being recorded in other Pacific Islands, with over half a metre at Norfolk Island.
Tuesday 9 February 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Forecast maps for Tropical Depression 09F were released by the Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre at 1:00pm today, Tuesday. TD09F is forecast to enter Tongan waters tonight as a Category 1 Tropical Cyclone.
