Strong winds and heavy rains predicted for Tonga, some exceeding 60 km/h, prompted authorities to shut down schools on the Niuas, Vava’u and Ha’apai this morning.
Our correspondent in Tongatapu took a video clip of the weather conditions. It shows how the strong winds bend coconut trees at Nuku’alofa waterfront.
Fua’amotu Met Centre said a gale warning remains in force for the Niuas.
A heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory remains in force for all of Tonga.
A storm warning remains in force for Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Tele-ki-Tonga, Tele-Ki-Tokelau, Vava’u and Ha’apai land areas and coastal waters.
A heavy damaging swell warning remains in force for all of Tonga coastal waters
On its current situation, tropical depression 06f was located near latitude 19.1 south, longitude 176.8 west or 290km west southwest of Vava’u, 280km west north west of Ha’apai, 250km northwest of Nomuka or 285km northwest of Nuku’alofa at 10:30am this morning, Met said.
“This system is moving south southeast at the speed of 15 knots (28km/hr) close to Nomuka.
“The potential for this system to develop into a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours is low.
“Meanwhile, an active trough of low pressure lies slow moving over the group. associated clouds, heavy rain and gale to storm force winds may affect the group.”
