APCEDI Alert SP/Tn 98P/08F Noname #1-2009: Cyclone Alert Issued for Tonga

The RSMC-Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre are issuing guidance on Tropical Depression 98P/08F over Tonga that is threatening to become a cyclone later today.

The centre of Tropical Disturbance 98P/08F is located 235 km west-northwest of the Vava'u Group moving southeast at 9 kt. Current models show the Depression slowly strengthening as it recurves to the south and then southwest later tomorrow posing a potential threat to the Vava'u and Ha'apai Groups and to Tongatapu and 'Eua.

The Depression may form into a minimal Tropical Cyclone later today, but is forecast at this time to only reach Tropical Storm strength on the Saffir Simpson Scale. Damage should be light but the storm, could pose a localised threats to areas prone to flooding and beach erosion.

All interests in Central and Southern Tonga should monitor the storm carefully and follow all government advice to rush cyclone preparations to completion.

The Tongan National Weather Forecasting Centre has issued the following Cyclone Alert:

SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN NUMBER ONE ISSUED FROM NATIONAL WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE FUA’AMOTU AT 4:00PM TUESDAY 27 JANUARY 2009.

A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT IS NOW IN FORCE FOR VAVA'U,HA'APAI,TONGATAPU AND'EUA.

TROPICAL DEPRESSION 08F (1000 HECTOPASCAL) WAS LOCATED NEAR 17.7 SOUTH, 176.1 WEST OR ABOUT 235 KILOMETERS WESTNORTHWEST OF VAVA'U AT 1:00PM TODAY. THE DEPRESSION IS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT ABOUT 9 KNOTS. EXPECT CLOCKWISE WINDS 25 TO 30 KNOTS WITHIN 60 NAUTICAL MILES OF CENTRE IN THE EASTERN SEMICIRLCE POSSIBLY INCREASING TO 35 KNOTS IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

THE DEPRESSION IS EXPECTED TO CURVE SOUTHWARDS IN THE NEXT 12 HOURS AND TURN TOWARDS THE SOUTHWEST LATER TOMORROW. ON THIS FORECAST TRACK 08F MAY BRING DAMAGING GALE FORCE WINDS TO HA'APAI GROUP,TONGATAPU AND 'EUA IN 24 HOURS.

NORTHWEST TO NORTHEAST WINDS 25 TO 30 KNOTS GUSTING 45 KNOTS ABOUT NIUAS AND VAVAU GROUP SPREADING TO HA'APAI,TONGATAPU AND 'EUA TONIGHT. WINDS MAY POSSIBLY INCREASE TO DAMAGING GALE FORCE WINDS IN 24 HOURS ABOUT VAVA'U, HA'APAI,TONGATAPU AND 'EUA. RAIN, HEAVY AT TIMES WITH SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. VERY ROUGH SEAS. MODERATE TO HEAVY NORTHWESTERLY SWELLS. POOR VISIBILITY IN HEAVY RAIN.

TIDES

HIGH 08:30PM
LOW 02:50AM

THE MEAN SEA LEVEL PRESSURE RECORDED AT FUA’AMOTU AT 4:00PM WAS 1007.8 MILLIBARS.

THE NEXT SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN FOR TONGA WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 9:30PM TONIGHT OR EARLIER.

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APCEDI will continue to monitor the progress of this system.

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

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