Results for Natural events

Strong wind warnings are currently in place for all land and sea areas of Vava’u and the Niuas as Tropical Cyclone Amos slowly intensifies and tracks towards the Niuas and Samoa today, warns the Tonga Meteorology Department. The cyclone Category 2 is moving southeast and has the potential to develop into a Category 3 storm over the next few days.

Tropical Cyclone Zena (Cat. 2) is rapidly moving towards southern Tonga and expected to bringing destructive storm force winds this afternoon to Tongatapu, ‘Eua and Ha’apai. Forecasters expect the storm to lie about 15km south-southeast of Nuku’alofa or 25km northwest of ‘Eua at about 3:00pm today, Thursday 7 April.

Gale warnings remain in force for Tongatapu and ‘Eua with a strong wind warning for Vava’u and Ha’apai as Tropical Depression 15F was located about 465km west of Nuku’alofa at 11:00am this morning, 5 April. Forecasters warn that the system could possibly increase to tropical cyclone strength today, bringing squally thunderstorms and heavy rain. The system is moving east-southeast at about 15 km/h and on its current track is expected to lie about 25km west of Nuku'alofa or 60km west-northwest of 'Eua at about 10:00pm this evening.

An ambitious National Climate Change Policy to build a Resilient Tonga by 2035 was launched by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Climate Change, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni in February. The policy aims for 100% renewable energy, and includes a mulititude of other goals that check boxes such as gender considerations and equity for disadvantaged groups, along with designing Category 5 cyclone resistant homes.

Residents in Tonga's low lying coastal areas may experience flooding on Friday and Saturday, March 11-12, as a high tide of over 1.85 meters is expected.

"Malo and thank you!", was the feeling of most people in Vava‘u at the weekend, after escaping the worst of Tropical Cyclone Winston - one of the strongest cyclones to ever visit the region - when it passed Vava’u twice in one week, firstly on Monday February 15 and returning on Friday February 19, but without making as much damage as they feared it might.

Tropical Cyclone Winston, category 4, was continuing to move west, away from Tonga and Fiji, at 14km per hour (8 knots) after directly hitting Fiji over the weekend with hurricane force winds. TC Winston is expected to remain a category 4 cyclone today and with a forecast track turning south to south east.

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.

Tonga’s island groups of Tongatapu, Vava’u, Ha’apai and ‘Eua escaped major damage from Tropical Cyclone Winston as it passed through Tonga yesterday and today, Tuesday, 16 February with winds gusts of 120km. Forecasters warn that the cyclone, now Cat. 3, is intensifying to the north east of Vava'u and may return for another pass through Tonga over the next few days.