Pacific island nations need to be vigilant as the cyclone season approaches, regional weather agencies have warned.
Tonga suffered from two cyclones this year, with Ula and Winston causing major problems in the outer islands.
About 10 tropical cyclones have been predicted during the cyclone season which normally runs from November to April.
Weather conditions are expected to be near average, although it is possible weather conditions could intensify later in the season.
In the past two years two severe cyclones, Pam and Winston, caused major damage in Vanuatu and in Fiji and Tonga.
Cyclones in 2016
Tonga’s tropical cyclone season normally runs from November to April, but severe weather can occur at any time of the year.
Tonga began the year recovering from the impact of Cyclone Ula. Tonga’s National Emergency and Management Office said there had been major destruction of fruit crops, with 10 percent of crops on Vava’u lost.
The category three tropical cyclone caused great destruction in the outer islands, with damage to a number of shelters and buildings that had not been built properly.
Cyclone Ula left Tonga and moved towards Fiji where it caused minior damage in the Lau Group.
Tonga’s outer island group of Vava’u bore the brunt of Cyclone Ula, with fruit crops destroyed on the eve of the harvesting season.
Kaniva News’s correspondent reported the destruction of crops on the main island of Neiafu.
Cyclone Ula caused significant damage in Tuvalu, Kiribati and Tokelau.
Cyclone Winston affected about 230 homes in Vava’u and trees and crops were extensively damaged when it struck later in the year
The category five cyclone struck the Vavaʻu group twice, slamming into the group twice in one week.
Major cyclones to affect Tonga
Ofa 1990
Kina 1992
Nina 1992
Hina 1997
Ron 1998
Waka 2001/2002
Cilla 2003
Heta 2003/4
Tam 2006
Urmil 2006
Vaianu 2006
Lin 2009
Wilma 2011
Jasmine 2012
Cyril 2012
Ian 2014
2015/2016 Ula
Winston 2016
The main points
- Pacific island nations need to be vigilant as the cyclone season approaches, regional weather agencies have warned.
- Tonga suffered from two cyclones this year, with Ula and Winston causing major problems in the outer islands.
- About 10 tropical cyclones have been predicted during the cyclone season which normally runs from November to April.
- Weather conditions are expected to be near average, although it is possible weather conditions could intensify later in the season.
For more information
Ten cyclones predicted for Pacific
New Year’s visits to church leaders and families resume in Vava’u after cyclone
Crops destroyed, houses damage as Vavaʻu outer islands feel the worst from Cyclone Ula
