Severe Tropical Cyclone Gita is forecast to hit Tonga with up to Category 4 force winds from Monday February 12 (Sunday our time) according to the latest forecast from the Nadi Torpical Cyclone Centre in Fiji.
A Category Cyclone 4 has mean winds 86-107 knots with a central pressure 945-910 hPa and is extremely destructive close to the centre. The centre is expected to track close to Tongatapu tomorrow morning.
Tongans are handicapped in their preparations for the storm as strict sabbatical laws prevent Sunday trading for emergency supplies. At 4:30pm today the capital, Nuku’alofa remains quiet and sleepy.
Tonga Met officers said this afternoon that if the cyclone speeds up from its present slow moving approach it might arrive earlier. A hurricane warning remains in place for most of Tonga.
The WeatherWatch New Zealand says that Tonga should be on high alert until the storm passes on Tuesday morning.
