Tropical Cyclone Zena continues to gain strength as it about to make landfall in Fiji this evening before heading towards Tonga.
On its current track severe Tropical Cyclone Zena Category 3 was located near south east of Nuku’alofa at 1pm today Wednesday 6, The Fua’amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (FTCWC) said at 4.30pm.
Zena carried an estimated average winds speed of 120km/hr with momentary gust of 150km/hr and is moving east-southeast at 40km/hr.
It may affect the island groups of ʻEua, Tongatapu, Ha’apai and Vava’u from later tomorrow.
FTCWC said a gale alert is now in force for all land and sea areas of ‘Eua, Tongatapu, Ha’apai and Vava’u.
A strong wind warning remains in force for Tongatapu, ʻEua, Ha’apai and Vava’u.
A heavy damaging swells remains in force for Tongatapu,’Eua, Ha’apai and Vava’u coastal waters.
Forecast to midnight tomorrow for Tongatapu and ‘Eua:
Fresh to strong south to souwest winds turning north to northwest winds gusty at times increasing to damaging gale force winds from later tomorrow.
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Very rough to high seas.
For Vavaʻu and Ha’apai:
Moderate to fresh west-northwest winds, strong at times.
Mostly clodudy with occassional showers, possibly heavy at times, with possible isolated thunderstorms. Seas very rough to high.
