APCEDI ALERT 06F #3, 2005: Tropical Cyclone Lola (06F) grazes Tonga before heading out to sea.

The Fiji Meteorological Service relocated and upgraded Tropical Depression 06F overnight to Tropical Cyclone Lola. Strong Wind Warnings remain in place for Central and Southern Tonga. All warnings for Fiji and Northern Tonga have now been discontinued. Tropical Storm Lola now lies 230 km to the southsouthwest of Nukualofa. Overnight the storm brought squalls and isolated heavy rains to the Ha'apai, Nomuka and Tongatapu Groups, but no significant damage has been reported although minor damage to crops, gardens and weak structures may have occurred in localised areas. The storm is now passing quickly to the southeast and should not be a threat to populated areas.


FROM FIJI METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE
http://www.met.gov.fj/

MARINE WEATHER BULLETIN FOR ISLANDS AREA 5N TO 25S BETWEEN 160E AND 180 AND EQ TO 25S BETWEEN 180 AND 120W. ISSUED BY FIJI METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE Jan 312000 UTC.

PART 1 : WARNING Gale Warning 051 issued from RSMC NADI Jan 31/2014 UTC 2005 UTC.*POSITION RELOCATED AND FORECAST CORRECTION*
Tropical Cyclone LOLA centre [990 hPa] was located near 22 decimal 7 South 176 decimal 5 West at 311800 UTC.
Position Poor.
Repeat position 22.7S 176.5W at 311800 UTC.
Cyclone moving southeast at about 10 knots and expected to turn south-southeast later.
Expect sustained winds of 40 knots close to centre.
Expect winds over 33 knots within 80 miles of centre in sectors from north through east to south and within 60 miles of centre elsewhere.
Forecast position near 24.5S 175.9W at 010600 UTC. and near 26.3S 175.3W at 011800 UTC.
Ships within 300 miles of centre are requested to send reports every three hours to RSMC Nadi. For Nadi: VOS reporting ships use normal channels. Other vessels fax plus 679 6720190 or email naditcc at met dot gov dot fj. This warning cancels and replaces warning 050.

PARTS 2 AND 3 : SYNOPSIS AND FORECAST VALID UNTIL Feb 011800 UTC.

TROPICAL CYCLONE LOLA [990HPA] NEAR 22.7S 176.5W AT 311800 UTC MOVING SOUTHEAST 10 KNOTS AND EXPECTED TO TURN SOUTH-SOUTHEAST LATER. APART FROM GALE WARNING 050 EXPECT CLOCKWISE WINDS 25 TO 30 KNOTS WITHIN 150 MILES OF CENTRE. VERY ROUGH SEAS. HEAVY SWELLS. POOR VISIBILITY IN SQUALLY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WITHIN 120 MILES OF CENTRE.


TONGA
Weather Bulletin issued from NWFC Nadi Feb 01/0003 UTC 2005 UTC.
A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL TONGA.

Situation:
Tropical Cyclone Lola was located near 23.2S 175.9W at 312100UTC or about 125 miles [ 230 km] to the southsouthwest of Nukualofa. The cyclone is moving southeast at about 10 knots away from Tonga. Associated convergence zone, strong winds and rain affect much of the kingdom.

Forecast to midnight tomorrow for Tonga:
Moderate to fresh northwest winds about Northern Tonga. Elsewhere, west to northwest winds, strong and gusty at times, easing and tending south to southwest tonight. Periods of rain, heavy at times with isolated squally thunderstorms, easing about Central and Southern Tonga tonight. Further outlook: Rain continuing about Northern Tonga. Elsewhere,
few showers.

For Nuku'alofa: Periods of rain and one or two squally thunderstorms, easing tonight.

APCEDI will continue to monitor the progress of this tropical system.

Kevin Vang
APCEDI Coordinator
http://www.afap.org/apcedi/