09th August 2016 Situation
A frontal system is momentarily slow moving to the southwest of Tongatapu and ‘Eua and it is expected that within this system a Developing Low Pressure System is expected to develop and approach Tongatapu and ‘Eua from the Northwest with Gale and gusty winds to affect Tongatapu, ’Eua and Ha’apai by tonight until mid-day tomorrow and with the continuous associated occasional rain and the cloudy to overcast state of the sky.
Current warning
- A heavy rain warning remains in force for Tongatapu, ‘Eua and Ha’apai.
- A Gale warning is now inforce for Tongatapu and ‘Eua land areas
- A Strong wind warning is now inforce for Ha’apai Land areas
- A Gale warning is now inforce for all Tongatapu and ‘Eua Coastal Waters
- A Strong wind is now inforce for all Ha’apai coastal wates.
Forecast
It is anticipated at this very point of time that a possible low pressure system is to develop and will approach Tongatapu and ‘Eua from the North-West in the next 6-12hrs with associated Strong to Gale force winds that is likely to affect the land areas and coastal waters of Tongatapu, ‘Eua and Ha’apai.
The periods of occasional rain and heavy falls at times that is associated with this system is more likely to occur as this meso-scale convective type systems approaches Tongatapu and ‘Eua plus the associated Strong to Gale force winds that is expected to be encountered especially to the Southern parts of Tongatapu and ‘Eua as this System approaches and more likely that we will feel this increase in wind speed and the associated occasional rain with isolated thunderstorms from this evening with rain easing to showers by tomorrow mid-day.
Observations
The following are rainfall from Tonga weather stations at 01:00pm local time
| Location | 24-hrs rainfall |
| Niuafoou | NIL |
| Niuatoputapu | NIL |
| Lupepau’u Airport | 23.8mm |
| Pilolevu Airport | 4.1mm |
| Fua’amotu Airport | 24.8mm |
Table 1.Significant rainfall recorded over the last 24-hrs from 01pm 08 August – 01pm 09 August 2016
For further information please contact the Meteorology Division on 35355 or metstaff@met.gov.to. More information is also available at www.met.gov.to
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications