Tongatapu hit by Cat 4 Cyclone

[Tetepare]

Extensive damage. Parliament building destroyed, 60% of homes heavily damaged.

Cyclone Gita clean-up efforts begin after category four storm batters Tonga - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Headed for eastern Fiji next.

[JPA Cate]

Good on the Aussies for getting the humanitarian aid there so fast.

Gita has shown up on the met bureau sattelite image for the first time, this morning. Its edge touched Ile des Pins, the Loyaute Is., and the south of Grande Terre in New Caledonia, the French cyclone alert warned of 4-6 meter swells at Mare.

And, the ruddy thing is headed WSW, still! Gonna be some big swells around, sorta looking like it will turn into a sub-tropical depression and make a nuisance of itself, but I'm no meteorologist.



Ann

[El Pinguino]

Forecast track here.. 5 day Rain Forecast - Weather Radar Imagery, Rain Forecasts and more from MetService.com

Cook Strait will be a fun place in a few days time ...

[JPA Cate]

Thank you for that, El Pinig, You're right about Cook Sts. Won't be nice there at all!

Ann

[RaymondR]

The up side is that we are now experiencing SE winds in southern Queensland which are bringing relief from the brutally hot weather we have had for the last week.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

The up side is that we are now experiencing SE winds in southern Queensland which are bringing relief from the brutally hot weather we have had for the last week.

Every cloud has a silver lining

I think that cyclone over the NW at the moment will be bring rain across to the SE of Oz.

[patprice]

There is no news that I have come across about yachts or other boats in the harbour at Nuku'alofa. No news is good news!
Not the best place to be with wind, tied up Mediterranean style. Did survive 50' wind with no damage. Problem is when tied up like that there is the risk of a "knock on " affect.
Lots of anchor drags at Pangamotu.

[Scotty Kiwi]

Swimming in Cook Straight this morning! Beautiful. Forecast has the eye coming through tomorrow evening, but weakened a little. Fixing everything down today.

[IslandHopper]

I do like the Interactive Weather on BOM.....

Interactive Weather and Wave Forecast Maps