Tonga: Warning - Tropical Cyclone Ian 4pm 10/1/14

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVISORY NUMBER THIRTY (30) FOR TONGA ON SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE IAN ISSUED FROM THE FUA'AMOTU TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE AT 4:00PM FRIDAY JANUARY 10TH 2014.

A TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING

A HURRICANE WARNING IS NOW IN FORCE FOR THE VAVAU AND HAAPAI GROUPS.

A GALE WARNING IS NOW IN FORCE FOR TONGATAPU,'EUA AND NEARBY ISLANDS.

A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS INFORCE FOR NIUAFO'OU, NIUATOPUTAPU AND TAFAHI. A HEAVY DAMAGING SWELL ADVISORY REMAINS INFORCE FOR COASTAL WATERS OF VAVA'U AND HA'APAI GROUP.

A HEAVY RAIN ADVISORY IS NOW IN FORCE FOR THE VAVA'U AND HA'APAI GROUPS.

SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE IAN CATEGORY 4 WAS LOCATED NEAR 17 DECIMAL 5 SOUTH 175 DECIMAL 5 WEST OR ABOUT 215KM SOUTH OF NIUAFO'OU OR ABOUT 205KM NORTHWEST OF VAVA'U AT 1:00PM TODAY.TROPICAL CYCLONE IAN HAS ESTIMATED WINDS OF 90KNOTS NEAR ITS CENTRE WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS UP TO 125KNOTS.THE CYCLONE IS MOVING SOUTH-SOUTHEAST AT 5KNOTS.

ON ITS CURRENT TRACK, TROPICAL CYCLONE IAN MAY BRING:

DAMAGING GALE FORCE WINDS TO VAVA'U IN THE NEXT 3-6HRS, DESTRUCTIVE STORM FORCE WINDS IN THE NEXT 6-12HRS AND VERY DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS IN THE NEXT 12-18HRS

FOR THE HA'APAI GROUP TROPICAL CYCLONE IAN MAY BRING DAMAGING GALE FORCE WINDS IN THE NEXT 6-12HRS, DESTRUCTIVE STORM FORCE WINDS IN THE NEXT 12-18 AND VERY DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANCE FORCE WINDS IN THE NEXT 18-24HR.

FOR TONGATAPU AND EUA THE CYCLONE MAY BRING DAMAGING GALE FORCE WINDS IN THE NEXT 12-18HRS

WEATHER FORECAST FOR TONGA:

FOR THE VAVA'U GROUP:

NORTHEAST WINDS 20-25KT INCREASING TO 45-55KTS WITH MOMENTARY GUST UP TO 65 T0 75KT IN THE NEXT 6-12HRS AND FURTHER INCREASING TO 65 KNOTS WITH GUST UP TO 85 IN THE NEXT 12-18HRS. OVERCAST WITH RAIN DEVELOPING WITH FLASH FLOODING EXPECTED.HIGH SEAS WITH DAMAGING HEAVY NORTHWEST SWELLS DEVELOPING. SEA FLOODING OF NORTHERN COASTS LIKELY.

FOR THE HA'APAI GROUPS:

EAST WINDS 15-20 INCREASING TO 45-50KT WITH MOMENTARY GUST TO 55-60KT IN THE NEXT 12-18HR. BECOMING OVERCAST WITH RAIN DEVELOPING.FLASH FLOODING EXPECTED. SEAS BECOMING ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH WITH DAMAGING HEAVY NORTHWEST SWELLS DEVELOPING.SEA FLODDING OF LOW LYING COASTAL AREAS POSIBLE.

FOR NIUAFO'OU:

WEST WINDS 20-25KTS GUSTY AT TIMES AND EASING. CLOUDY WITH A FEW SHOWERS.SEAS ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH WITH HEAVY SOUTHWEST SWELL.

FOR NIUATOPUTAPU AND TAFAHI:

NORTHWEST WINDS INCREASING TO 20-30KTS AT TIMES. CLOUDY PERIODS WITH OCCASIONAL SHOWERS. SEAS BECOMING ROUGH WITH MODERATE NORTHWEST SWELLS.

FOR TONGATAPU AND 'EUA:
SOUTHEAST WINDS 15-20KTS POSSIBLY INCREASING TO 30-35 KNOTS IN THE NEXT 12-18HR. EXPECT RAIN, HEAVY AT TIMES IN THE NEXT 12-18HOURS. ROUGH SEAS WITH HEAVY SWELLS DEVELOPING.

TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR NUKU'ALOFA:
MAX: 31 DEGREES CELSIUS TODAY.
MIN: 25 DEGREES CELSIUS TONIGHT.

TIDE PREDICTIONS:
LOW TIDE : 09:35PM
HIGH TIDE : 03:45AM TOMORROW MORNING.

THE MEAN SEA LEVEL PRESSURE RECORDED AT 4:00PM AT LUPEPAU'U AIRPORT WAS 999.8MB
AND 1003.4MB AT FUA'AMOTU

THE NEXT TROPICAL CYCLCONE ADVISORY ON SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE IAN WILL BE
ISSUED AROUND 7:00PM TODAY OR EARLIER.

FD:OF/NH/SF/NO/ CRS:SVH/TT/TN=

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