Tropical Cyclone Advisory Number 9 for Tonga on Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa (Category 3)

A STORM FORCE WIND WARNING REMAINS INFORCE FOR HA’APAI LAND AREAS AND COASTAL WATERS.

A GALE WARNING REMAINS INFORCE FOR VAVA’U AND THE NIUAS LAND AREAS AND COASTAL WATERS.

A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS INFORCE FOR TELE-KI-TONGA AND TELE-KI-TOKELAU COASTAL WATERS.

A HEAVY RAIN WARNING AND FLASH FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS INFORCE FOR ALL OF TONGA LAND AREAS.

A HEAVY DAMAGING SWELL WARNING REMAINS INFORCE FOR ALL OF TONGA COASTAL WATERS.

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS INFORCE FOR ALL OF TONGA COASTAL WATERS.

FOR TONGATAPU AND ‘EUA:
East to Northeast winds 20-30 knots (40-60km/hrs) and it is expected to rise up to damaging gale force winds of 35-45 knots(70-90km/hrs) by tonight and tomorrow with momentary gusts up to storm force winds 50-70knots (100-140km/hrs).
Mostly cloudy and overcast with periods of occasional rain, heavy at times. Moderate seas (up to 2.5 metres) becoming rough to very rough seas (up to 6-8 metres) by this evening. A heavy damaging Northwesterly swell (up to 4-6 metres).

FOR HA’APAI:
East to Northeast winds 20-30 knots (40-60km/hrs) and it is expected to rise up to damaging gale force winds of 35-45 knots(70-90km/hrs) by tonight and tomorrow with momentary gusts up to storm force winds 50-60knots (100-120km/hrs).
Mostly cloudy and overcast with periods of occasional rain, heavy at times. Moderate seas (up to 2.5 metres) becoming rough to very rough seas (up to 6-8 metres) by this evening. A heavy damaging Northwesterly swell (up to 4-6 metres).

FOR VAVA’U:
East to Northeast winds 25-30knots (50-60km/hrs) with momentary gust up to gale force winds 35-45knots (70-90km/hrs). Cloudy and overcast at times with periods of heavy occasional rain and thunderstorms. Moderate seas (up to 2.5 metres) becoming rough to very rough seas (up to 6-8 metres) by this evening. A heavy damaging Northwesterly swell (up to 4-6 metres).

FOR THE NIUAS:
North to Northwest winds 25-30knots (50-60km/hrs) with momentary gust up to gale force winds 35-45knots (70-90km/hrs). Mostly cloudy and overcast with occasional rain, heavy at times with isolated thunderstorms. Moderate seas (up to 2.5 metres) becoming rough to very rough seas (up to 6-7 metres). A heavy damaging Northwesterly swell (up to 4-6 metres)

FOR TELE-KI-TONGA AND TELE-KI-TOKELAU COASTAL WATERS:
Southeast winds 20-25knots (40-50km/hrs) then rising up to 30-35knots (60-70km/hrs). Moderate to rough seas (up to 6-8 metres). A heavy damaging Northwesterly swell (up to 4-6 metres).

THE MEAN SEA LEVEL PRESSURE RECORDED AT FUA’AMOTU AIRPORT AT 7:00PM WAS 1006.3 MILLIBARS AND THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY WAS 95%. THE NEXT TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVISORY ON SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE “YASA” FOR TONGA WILL BE ISSUED ABOUT 10:00PM TONIGHT.