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.
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Tuesday 16 February 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tuesday 16 February 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Real Tonga Airlines cancelled its domestic flights today as Tropical Cyclone Winston cat.2 moves toward the north of Tonga. Fiji Airways also cancelled one international flight scheduled for today as the cyclone lay between Fiji and Tonga. Meanwhile, Virigin's international flight arrived at Fua'amotu safely this morning, and Air New Zealand's flight to Tongatapu will also go ahead as scheduled.
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Tuesday 16 February 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A short tremor was felt in Tongatapu tonight at around 4:03 am. The M 5.7 earthquake rattled houses and woke people, who stayed indoors sheltering from the gale force winds and heavy rains brought to Tonga overnight by Tropical Cyclone Winston - an unusual cyclone that is worrying weather experts because it is moving north.
Monday 15 February 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
As Tongans welcome drought-breaking rains today, bringing relief from a February heatwave, Tonga Met warns that Tonga can expect gales tonight as Tropical Cyclone Winston cat. 2 approaches Tonga from the southwest. The first Tropical Cyclone Warning for TC Winston was issued at 4:30pm this afternoon and a second at 7:30pm for the cyclone that is forecast to hang around in Tongan waters for most of the week.
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Thursday 11 February 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
There is a high chance of another cyclone forming up to the second week of March this year, even though Tonga has already experienced three cyclones this season as forecasted, Tonga Met predicts.
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Sunday 24 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongatapu and Nuku’alofa escaped Tropical Cyclone Victor, which passed 115 km south of ‘Eua at 11:00pm Friday night, bringing only fresh winds to the capital.
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Friday 22 January 2016
Fua'amotu, Tonga
Tropical Cyclone Victor (cat. 2) is forecast to bring damaging gale force winds of 65-75kph, squally seas and thunderstorms this evening to southern Tongan islands, according to the latest Tropical Cyclone Advisory #12 issued by the Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre at 1:30pm Friday 22 January 2016. The centre of the cyclone is expected to lie about 150km southeast of 'Eua at 7:00pm.
Thursday 21 January 2016
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Fua'amotu, Tonga
A Tropical Cyclone Warning remains in force for Ha'apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua as Severe Tropical Cyclone Victor (cat. 3) moves through southern Tongan waters. On its current track, Victor is expected to lie about 365km east of ‘Eua about midnight tonight. Fua'amotu TCWC forecasts south to southwest winds 45-55km/hr increasing to gale force winds of 75km/h and momentary gusts to 100km/hr in the next 18 to 24 hours, according to their advisory no. 5 issued at 4:10pm
Tuesday 19 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A tropical cyclone warning for Niue, issued by RSMC Nadi this evening expects Severe Tropical Cyclone Victor with winds gusting up to 205 km/hr near its centre, to pass 330km to the south of Niue over the next 24-48 hours, moving on a westerly track toward southern Tonga. Forecasters state that mariners in Tongatapu and 'Eua coastal waters and for Telekitonga and Teletokelau coastal waters can expect rough to very rough seas and heavy damaging swells on Thursday, with strong and gusty winds at times.
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Thursday 14 January 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Strong El Nino conditions, peaking in Tonga in recent weeks, have been among the three strongest El Nino events of the past 50-years, suggested by temperatures recorded in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Rainfall outlook for the next three-months is below average, with a higher chance of a tropical cyclone for Tonga.
Tuesday 5 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga government last night cancelled a State of Emergency that was declared for Vava’u and Ha’apai on 31 December as Tropical Cyclone Ula entered Tongan waters. A government team after assessing the situation in Vava'u and Ha'apai yesterday, had found little damage to public infrastructure.
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Saturday 2 January 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Initial reports have confirmed no casualties in Vava'u which has escaped major damage to infrastructure, apart from fallen trees due to Tropical Cyclone Ula. A state of emergency issued only for Vava’u and Ha’apai remains in force to be reviewed. While Tonga's climate experts say that a lack of moisture to drive the system prevented it from intensifying into a devastating Category 4 or 5 storm.
Saturday 2 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga continues to brace itself for destructive winds expected from Tropical Cyclone Ula, for the next 12 hours . The eye of Ula passed 55km to the north of Vava’u at 6:00am this morning with the strongest wind gusts of 80 knots (about 160kph) recorded at 7:00am. Photos by Linny Folau.
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Saturday 2 January 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tropical Cyclone Ula is expected to lie 40km north of Vava'u at 7:00am this morning, hitting the group with wind gusts that could reach 200km per hour, Tonga's Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre advised at 2:00am this morning. The track of the severe tropical cyclone has moved closer to Vava'u. Southern Tonga groups can also expect destructive winds in the next 24 hours.
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Thursday 31 December 2015
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A tropical cyclone alert is now in force for Niuatoputapu and Vava'u, as Tropical Cyclone Ula (Category 1) is currently moving south-southwest across the north of Tonga and expected to bring strong and gusty winds to the groups over the next two days. The Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre issued the first alert for Tonga at 3:00pm today, Thursday 31 December 2015 and will continue to update their advisories this evening.
Friday 25 December 2015
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga is expected to enjoy good weather with light to moderate breezes, and fine partly-cloudy days with a little rain in places, during the Christmas weekend and into early next week, December 25-29.
Monday 14 December 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga is currently experiencing strong El Nino conditions bringing cooler night time temperatures with the lowest recorded at 14.6°C for November, in Fua'amotu. However, the lowest temperature so far for the year was 12.0°C in August.
Sunday 29 November 2015
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A tropical cyclone warning for Niuatoputapu has been been cancelled this evening and replaced with a strong wind warning as Tropical Cyclone Tuni moves away from Tonga’s northern islands. Telephone services for the remote Niuas are currently disrupted by the windy conditions.
Sunday 29 November 2015
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
On its current track Tropical Cyclone Tuni is expected to lie 180km east of Niuatoputapu at 07:00pm this evening, the Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre advised at 10:00am Sunday 29 November 2015. The next advisory will be issued at 1:00pm.
Saturday 28 November 2015
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A tropical depression TD03F center (996hpa) located to the north northwest of Niuatoputapu is slowly intensifying and could possibly become a tropical cyclone in the next 6-18 hours the Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre advised this afternoon at 4:00pm Saturday 28 November 2015.
