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Thursday 28 January 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Tropical Depression that has developed to the west of Tonga is expected to bring storms, gales and heavy rain to Tonga overnight, Thursday. The Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre was activated today and has issued a gale warning for the Niuas land areas, and a storm warning for other groups.
Monday 21 December 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ninety people, including 73 repatriates and health staff in-quarantine at the Makeke Camp on Friday were relocated to the Kupesi Hotel at Fua'amotu as a precaution, while Tropical Cyclone Yasa was approaching Tongan waters, MEIDECC CEO Paula Ma’u said today. Apart from minor crop damage, Tonga remained unscathed by TC Yasa.
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Sunday 20 December 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Center was deactivated at 1:00pm today, as Tropical Cyclone Yasa weakened and was downgraded into a tropical low as it moved to the south-southwest, further away from Tongatapu and 'Eua this morning.
Saturday 19 December 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A gale warning remains in force for Tongatapu and 'Eua land areas this evening, as Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa, now a weakening Cat. 1 system, is expected to lie at about 335km West of Nuku'alofa at 7:00pm today. Previous hurricane and storm warnings for Tonga have been downgraded by the Tonga Meteorological Service.
Thursday 17 December 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An extremely powerful Tropical Cyclone “Yasa”, is threatening Fiji today, where Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama warned people to prepare and evacuate low lying areas. Forecasters warned that wave heights around the eye of the storm could approach 14 meters (45 feet), with momentary gusts of up to 195 knots (390km/hr). TC Yasa threatens to cause damage on the scale of Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016. Meanwhile, a Tropical Cyclone Alert is now in force for Tonga.
Wednesday 16 December 2020

New York, USA
New York Times reporting: On December 21, Jupiter and Saturn will appear to be no more than a dime’s width apart in the night sky. The last time that could be seen was in 1226, making the event a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle for most adults.
Wednesday 16 December 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
As Fiji braces for severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa (Cat. 5), Tonga Met. Director ‘Ofa Fa’anunu advises that Tonga should prepare too for a potentially severe cyclone over the weekend. Meanwhile, TC Zazu has moved away from Tonga.
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Tuesday 15 December 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tropical Cyclone Zazu (Cat. 1) is expected to move 60km south of Neiafu, Vava’u or 70km northeast of Muitoa, Ha’apai at 3:00pm today. In Vava'u, Tonga Met. Director ‘Ofa Fa’anunu, said the strongest gust recorded reached 62 knots at Lupepau’u Airport at 1:00am. Meanwhile, a second stronger Tropical Cyclone, TC Yasa (Cat. 3) continues to move slowly towards Fiji.
Monday 14 December 2020

Nadi, Fiji
Weather watchers are following Tropical Cyclone Yasa [995hpa], moving slowly toward Fiji today, bringing thunderstorms and showers to the area. The Cat.1 storm is expected to strengthen over the next few days.
Monday 14 December 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Tropical Cyclone warning is in force for Tonga today as Tropical Depression 03F moves towards Vava'u, Tonga Met. advised this morning. The system is bringing unsettled weather to most of Tonga. The storm coincides with the highest tides of the month.
Thursday 3 December 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Above average rainfall is forecast across Tonga up to January 2021, according to the latest climate update from Tonga Meteorological Service. Tonga Met is also using traditional knowledge indicators to forecast tropical cyclones and so far, our mango trees, the birds and the bees and bananas are not indicating cyclones.
Monday 30 November 2020

San Francisco, USA
New York Times science reporting: Take a moment to marvel at the full moon. Do you notice anything different? It’s subtle, but on November 30 (Sunday night if you’re on the U.S. west coast) [Monday night in Tonga], the full moon should appear a bit darker than usual. That’s because you’re witnessing a penumbral lunar eclipse, a celestial occurrence in which the moon dips behind Earth’s faint, outer shadow, or penumbra.
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Thursday 5 November 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A six-day training program on building different types of fale Tonga (Tonga house) for cyclone preparedness was completed after 25 people, including 11 women, were awarded certificates at the Free Constitution Church of Tonga in Pahu today. By Eleanor Gee.
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Monday 2 November 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Tropical Cyclone Season for 2020-21 has officially started in November. There are no tropical cyclones expected in the coming week, says Tonga Met's first outlook for the season.
Friday 16 October 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In Tonga we loose more lives at sea than through natural disasters, 'Ofa Fa'anunu told maritime operators in Tongatapu and 'Eua on October 16, in a consultation workshop by the Tonga Meteorological Services, aimed to improve weather and radio services.
Friday 2 October 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A total of 37 earthquakes occurred within Tonga in the month of September, but none of them were felt by communities, the Tonga Geological Services, reported in its Tonga Seismic Bulletin for September. (Yesterday's 6.7mi felt tremor will be covered in their October bulletin).
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Thursday 1 October 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 6.7mi earthquake centred near the Vava'u Group was felt in the capital Nuku'alofa at 2:14 pm as a strong tremor. The NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre advised that there is no tsunami threat based on preliminary data.
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Tuesday 25 August 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An earthquake centred close to Tongatapu and 'Eua was felt as mild shaking in the capital Nuku'alofa at 11:50am, today, Tuesday 25 August. Tonga Geological Services are now conducting an online survey to find out how the earthquake was observed in different parts of Tonga. Click for links.
Monday 24 August 2020

Fasi mo e Afi, Tonga
It is quite special that this year all the planets are easily visible and also in a configuration which happens infrequently. In December 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will come closer together, until their great conjunction on 22 December 7:37 Tonga time. It will be a spectacular phenomenon, a few days before Christmas. They will do so again in 2080 but then for centuries to come, not any more. A long time ago, in 14AD there was, interestingly, a great conjunction on 25 December. By Firitia Velt.
Friday 21 August 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Southern Tonga has experienced extreme rainfall this week that was close to the record, for a 24 hour period in the current “dry season”. A La Niña Alert for October-December 2020, further increases the chances of above average rainfall across Tonga.
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