Results for Natural events

Residents of Nuku'alofa woke up to the spectacular sight of a sprouting white cloud of volcanic smoke or steam, which could be seen clearly on the northern horizon from the Nuku'alofa waterfront this morning. Geologists who estimate the underwater eruption is 34 nautical miles away from the capital will try to get closer to the event tomorrow.

A Tropical Cyclone Alert is now in force for Vava'u, Ha'apai, Tongatapu and 'Eua, the Tonga National Weather Forecasting Centre, Fua'amotu advised at 4:00pm today, Tuesday 27 January 2009.

January this year has delivered some hot days for Tonga getting close to record temperatures, with more hot days forecast.

Nuku‘alofa experienced dark overcast skies this morning as thunderstorms dumped above average rainfall, flooding roads and homes in low-lying areas in just 24 hours.

Nuku‘alofa is experiencing flash flooding of low-lying areas, with water coming inside some homes, after thunderstorms this afternoon dumped almost a month's rainfall over Tongatapu in only seven hours.

A fishing boat was washed on a reef to the east of the Masefield Naval Base, in Nuku'alofa late this afternoon, the victim of a tropical depression that has lashed Tongatapu with strong winds and heavy rain during the past 48 hours.

A Tropical Cyclone Alert has been cancelled for central and southern Tonga as Tropical Cyclone Daman has weakened overnight and is expected to curve southwest away from Tonga today.

An earthquake measuring 6.3, epicentred about 600km south of Tonga this afternoon, was not felt in Tongatapu.

Tropical Cyclone Cliff moving away from Fiji toward the south of Tonga is expected to bring damaging gale force winds to Tongatapu and nearby small islands tonight.