31st August, 2016 Tonga is being represented at the 16th Session of the South East Indian Ocean and South West Pacific Tropical Cyclone Committee being held in Honiara, Solomon Islands from 29 August to 02 September 2016 by the Director of Meteorology, Mr. ‘Ofa Fa’anunu and Severe Weather Meteorologist, Mr. Laitia Fifita.
The meeting which is one of the 5 Technical Working Groups of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Regional V (Southeast Asia and Southwest Pacific) meets biennially to review the Tropical Cyclone Coordination procedures in the Region as well as map out ways to address gaps in the Tropical Cyclone Early Warning and Response Systems throughout South East Indian Ocean and the South West Pacific Region.
The Director stated that “one of the things Tonga will be requesting at this meeting is for some guidance criteria to be developed to allow us to provide better advice to our Government when to issue a State of Emergency before Impact.”
“It is an issue that requires special attention considering that we are now seeing more severe tropical events in our area on a regular basis. It is no longer adequate to just pick up the pieces after a cyclone. The science is strong enough now to plan things like state of emergency and evacuations to protect life and property ahead of impact. Turning early warning into early action will save lives and property,” he said.
19 Member countries of WMO Region V are attending this 1 week meeting.
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