08th August, 2021 The Senior staff and Operational Meteorologists of the Tonga Meteorological Services (TMS) participated in the 19th Session of the WMO RA-V Tropical Cyclone Committee (TCC) meeting for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean held virtually from the 27th – 29th July 2021.
This TCC meeting is held on a biennial basis, during the Tropical Cyclone (TC) off season period with the aim to discuss key operational concerns, shared experiences, lessons learnt and ways forward for the region in terms of TC forecasting, warnings and services.
The chairperson of the WMO RA-V TCC is Mr. Chris Noble of the New Zealand Meteorological Services, and the Vice-Chair is Mr. Moleni Tu’uholoaki from the Tonga Meteorological Service.
During the opening ceremony of this 19th Session of the TCC meeting the Director of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Public Service branch from the WMO Secretariat, Mr. Cyrille Honoré stressed that, “it is very important for the members of the WMO-RA V TCC to come together on its usual annual meetings to discuss key challenges and ways forward based on the experience of each National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) in the region to improve our TC warning services for the people of the region. The WMO has been providing assistance and will continue to do so through the established WMO-TC Programme framework for its member countries. Saving people’s lives and its properties through timely and accurate weather warning services and information is very important in building our respective country’s resilience and preparedness to the impacts of Natural Hazards.”
The Deputy Director for the TMS, Mr. Laitia Fifita, presented the country report for Tonga on the TC season 2020-2021. It was highlighted in his presentation that during the TC season 2020-2021, a total of 7 tropical systems were experienced this past TC season in our area and from these systems, 4 TCs affected our Area of Responsibility (AoR). The table below shows a summary of these systems and the timeframe of occurrence.
One of the highlights of the 3-day meeting was the decision on a proposal by Tonga that for any tropical system entering a countries sovereign boundary, that country will have precedence over naming of a tropical cyclone if there is a difference in opinion on the criteria for naming with the corresponding RSMC. This is to remove uncertainty in naming of marginal system and for the country affected to take better control of their warnings and be better prepared e.g. naming a cyclone early in the day to allow for preparations to take place and not late at night.
The next Tropical Cyclone season (2021 – 2022) commences on the 1st November 2021.
ENDS
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