5 Apr 2007

Cyclone Cliff posing major threat to Tonga overnight

7:57 pm on 5 April 2007

Cyclone Cliff, which has been battering Fiji for the past two days, is intensifying and is expected to bring flooding and gale winds to parts of Tonga overnight.

At 7 this evening the cyclone was located about 190 kilometres west of the capital of Tonga, Nuku'alofa, and moving in a south-southeasterly direction.

Close to its centre winds are expected to reach 60 knots with occasional gusts 85 knots.

The Nadi weather office says Tongatapu, where the capital is sited, can expect damaging gale force winds, frequent heavy rain and flooding over the next 12 hours.