Grey ash “falling like rain” from the large ash volcanic eruptions that are continuing in the area of Hunga Ha'apai- Hunga Tonga, can be seen from the Tongatapu coastline. Photos by Shane Egan.
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Tuesday 13 January 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Monday 12 January 2015
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Nuku’alofa received heavy rainfall today, a welcome relief to residents after months of enduring unusually dry weather and little rainfall. For the last seven months since June, Tonga has experienced below average rainfall.
Tuesday 30 December 2014
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A continuing eruption from Tonga's active undersea volcano, Hunga Ha'apai, was clearly visible on the horizon northwest of Tongatapu today. Photos by Shane Egan
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Sunday 21 December 2014
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Water shortage plans are being activated while an El Nino warning was declared for the whole of Tonga, by Tonga's Meteorology Service on Friday, 19 December. The current drought for Tongatapu, 'Eua, Ha'apai and Vava'u is expected to continue for another three months.
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Tuesday 18 November 2014
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Meteorology Department is warning that current weather conditions indicate that Tonga could suffer a tropical cyclone this summer.
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Wednesday 1 October 2014
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The night of 8 to 9 October this year will bring us another lunar eclipse, almost equal to the one of the 15 April seen in Tonga. By Firitia Velt.
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Tuesday 23 September 2014
3 comments
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand, Tony Abbott and John Key, have been slammed for deciding not to attend the UN climate summit in New York tomorrow September 23.
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Friday 12 September 2014
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Current cool nights and low rainfall indicate that Tonga may be affected by a climatic condition known as “El Nino” with the potential of droughts occurring in the coming months. Water conservation is advised as an El Nino watch remains in force.
Tuesday 1 July 2014
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 6.4 magnitude underwater earthquake struck 197 kilometres northwest of Niuatoputapu early Monday morning at 3:52 AM, triggering a tsunami warning that was later cancelled.
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Saturday 26 April 2014
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A very large earthquake rocked Nuku'alofa minutes ago, just after 7:00pm local time. Houses shook violently and people could be heard shouting warnings to each other with babies crying. There has been no tsunami warning. No damage has been reported. Updated 7:53 pm.
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Wednesday 2 April 2014
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A major earthquake that struck off the coast of northern Chile this afternoon has generated a significant tsunami for Chile, with tsunami warnings issued for the Pacific coasts of South America, including Easter Island. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii has now determined that no tsunami threat exists for other coastal areas although some may experience small sea level changes. For all areas covered by this center the tsunami warning and watch are now cancelled (6:00pm Tonga time).
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Saturday 22 March 2014
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An E-Disaster Early Warning System that will trigger tsunami warnings from Tonga's Meteorological Center to and early warning loud speakers system in the villages of Kanokupolu and Kolovai was commissioned on March 20.
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Sunday 2 March 2014
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tropical Cyclone Kofi brought heavy rain and gusts of up to 48 knots (90kmph) to Tongatapu early this morning as the system moved to the southwest of Tonga. The Fua‘amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre has downgraded the cyclone warning this morning, while a gales warning remains in force for Tonga waters, with an extreme high tide advisory continuing for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Saturday 1 March 2014
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongatapu, ‘Eua and Ha‘apai can expect damaging gale force winds of 35 knots with gusts up to 50 knots overnight as Tropical Cyclone Kofi moves southeast through southern Tongan waters. On its current track the centre is expected to lie about 205km west-southwest of Nomuka or 140km west of Nuku‘alofa about midnight tonight, Saturday. The Fua'amotu TCWC warns that damaging gale force winds may occur several hours before the Cyclone centre passes. (FTCWC Advisory 3:00pm).
Saturday 1 March 2014
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Tropical Cyclone Warning is now in force for Vava‘u, Ha‘apai, Tongatapu and 'Eua as Tropical Depression 15F approaches Tonga and is forecast to become a Category 1- 2 cyclone as it moves through southern Tonga on Saturday and Sunday. On its current track and if the depression continues to intensify, the centre is expected to lie about 290km west-northwest of Nomuka or 265km northwest of Nuku'alofa at 7:00pm this evening. Latest forecast at 9:00am from Fua'amotu TCWC.
Friday 28 February 2014
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A strong wind warning with a heavy rain advisory is in force for Tonga as a Tropical Depression lies over the Fiji Group. The depression is forecasted to develop into a Category 1 Tropical Cyclone as it moves towards Tonga within the next 48-hours over the weekend.
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Friday 14 February 2014
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Nuku'alofa has been sweltering under the hottest temperatures for the year this week, during the sun's overpass of Tonga's latitudes. Monday, February 10 is so far the hottest day for the year in Nuku'alofa reaching a maximum temperature of 33 celcius, but not as hot as the record 33.4 celcius on exactly the same day in 2009.
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Thursday 6 February 2014
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A shallow M5.3 earthquake with an epicenter located 72km east of ‘Ohonua, ‘Eua was recorded at 4:04am this morning, February 6, according to the USGS.
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Thursday 16 January 2014
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Greenbelt, Md.-USA
NASA's TRMM satellite passed over Tropical Cyclone Ian three days in a row and captured rainfall and thunderstorm cloud height data about the deadly storm as it strengthened and weakened. Powerful thunderstorms in Ian's eye wall were found reaching heights of about 15 km/9.3 miles. TRMM's data was used to create a 3-D flyby animation of Ian's well defined eye on January 11, 2014 at 0833 UTC [9:30pm Tonga local time].
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Saturday 11 January 2014
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
No deaths, injuries, missing persons or missing vessels were reported in Tonga by this afternoon as Severe Tropical Cyclone Ian, now category 4, with its centre packing punches from 194-268km/hr gusts, weaved its way between the Vava‘u and Ha‘apai groups today, passing close to the exposed small outlying island communities of Mo‘unga‘one and Muitoa, whose fate remains unknown. However, the powerful cyclone that intensified to category 5 last night has surprised storm-watchers by letting Vava‘u off lightly without the expected destruction.
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