User:Jason Rees/Tonga TC's

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Tonga is an island nation located within Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean about 1800 kilometres (1120 mi) to the northeast of New Zealand and is neighboured by American Samoa, Fiji, New Caledonia, Niue, Samoa, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna. The island nation consists of 171 islands, which are scattered over 700,000 km2 (270,000 sq mi) and grouped into four island groups (Haʻapai, Niua's, Tongatapu and Vavaʻu). Collectively the xxx systems have caused at least $ US in damages and at least xxx deaths.


Tropical cyclones are the most serious natural hazard that Tonga experiences in terms of total damages and economic loss, with the island nation directly impacted by an average of 10 - 12 tropical cyclones during a decade or at least 1 - 2 tropical cyclones each season. Since 1643, at least 300 possible tropical cyclones have affected the Fijian Islands in the south Pacific Ocean. They generally impact the country during the cyclone season between November and the following April, however, systems have impacted the island nation outside of these times. However, there have been at least 14 seasons where no direct impacts to Fiji have been recorded, while five named systems impacted the island nation during the 1992-93 season.

The effects of tropical cyclones on the island nation are most significant at the coast, however, as Fiji is a small country, the whole island nation can be severely impacted by widespread flooding, landslides and storm-force winds. The frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones impacting Fiji is one of the major barriers, to the island nations economic growth and development. The average annual losses to assets from tropical cyclones amount to about FJ$152 million or about 1.6% of the island nations gross domestic product. The worst tropical cyclone on record to impact Fiji was Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston which caused 44 deaths and an estimated 2 billion FJ$ (0.9 billion US$) in damage. The deadliest tropical cyclone was the February 1931 hurricane and flood which caused 225 deaths.

Background[edit]

It is thought that more tropical cyclones impact Tonga, when El Nino conditions are present in the atmosphere. The odds of a tropical cyclone impacting Tonga are greatest, when an El Nino episode

It is expected that Tonga will suffer from less tropical cyclones in the future


Projections tend to show a decrease in the frequency of tropical cyclones, by the late 21st century but are expected to increase in intensity.[1]

Climatology[edit]

On average a tropical cyc

Within Tonga, the tropical cyclone season is considered to run between November and April, however, tropical cyclones have occasionally impacted the island nation outside of this period.[2] On average one or two tropical cyclones impact the island nation every year, however, the number of impacts varies from year to year with

1800's[edit]

  • January 24, 1830 - hurricane - Vavau
  • March 1830 – A tropical cyclone impacted Tonga.[3]
  • January 24, 1833 – A tropical cyclone impacted Tonga's Vavaʻu island group.[3]
  • March 9, 1833 – A tropical cyclone impacted Tonga's Ha'apai island group.[3]
  • 1834 – A tropical cyclone impacted Tonga's Ha'apai island group.[3]
  • November 1835 – A tropical cyclone impacted Tonga's Ha'apai and Vavaʻu island groups.[3]
  • February 7 – 10, 1839 – A tropical cyclone impacted Tonga's Ha'apai island group.[4]
  • 1840 – A tropical cyclone impacted Tonga's Vavaʻu island group.[3]
  • April 5 – 8, 1848 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji and Tonga.[3]
  • April 12 – 15, 1848 – A tropical cyclone impacted Tonga.[4]
  • April 1848 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji and Tonga.[5]
  • March 1856 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji and Tonga.[6]
  • January 10 – 15, 1863 – A tropical cyclone impacted Tonga and possibly the island nation of Niue.[4]
  • March 1864 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji and Tonga.[5]
  • February 12 – 13, 1874 – A tropical cyclone impacted Tonga.[4]
  • April 10, 1874 – A tropical cyclone was located to the southeast of Tonga.[4]
  • March 12–13, 1875 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji and Tonga.[5]
  • January 1875 – A tropical cyclone impacted Rotuma, Fiji and Tonga.[5]
  • March 1875 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji and Tonga.[5]
  • November 15 – 21, 1875 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.[4][5]
  • March 14 – 20, 1877 – A tropical cyclone impacted Samoa and Tonga.[4]
  • March 31, 1877 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji and Tonga.[5]
  • December 19, 1877 - A tropical cyclone existed to the southwest of Tonga.[4]
  • March 3 – 9, 1879 – A tropical cyclone impacted the Samoan and Tongan islands.[4]
  • February 2, 1882 – A tropical cyclone impacted Tonga and the Cook Islands.[4]
  • January 1, 1883 – A tropical cyclone was located to the north of Tonga.[4]
  • January 12, 1883 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji and Tonga.[5]
  • January 5, 1887 – A tropical cyclone was located to the south of Tonga.[4]
  • January 26, 1891 – A tropical cyclone was located to the west of Tonga.[4]
  • February 18 – 19, 1891 – A tropical cyclone impacted Tuvalu, Fiji and Tonga.[5][4]
  • January 3, 1896 – A tropical cyclone impacted Tonga.[3]

1900's[edit]

  • April 1909 – A tropical cyclone impacted Northern Tonga.[7]
  • January 1912 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji before it recurved and impacted Tonga.[5][7]
  • February 1913 – A tropical cyclone impacted Southern Tonga.[7]
  • March 1915 – A tropical cyclone impacted Southern Tonga.[7]
  • March 1920 – A tropical cyclone existed in between Fiji and Tonga.[5]
  • December 1923 – A tropical cyclone existed in between Fiji and Tonga.[8]
  • December 1929 – A tropical cyclone developed near the Tongan island of Nulakita before passing over Rotuma, Viti Levu, Makongai and Ngau.
  • December 1, 1930 – A tropical cyclone severely impacted Fiji, before moving on to Tonga.[8]
  • December 1930 – A tropical cyclone impacted Northern Tonga.[7]
  • March 1932 – A tropical cyclone impacted Southern Tonga.[7]
  • March 1935 – A tropical cyclone impacted Southern Tonga.[7]
  • February 1936 – A tropical cyclone impacted Northern Tonga.[7]
  • February 1937 – A tropical cyclone impacted Southern Tonga.[7]

1940[edit]

  • February 18, 1941 – A tropical cyclone impacted Northern Tonga, before it became one of the worst tropical cyclones to impact Fiji on record.[7][9]
  • December 26–27, 1941 – A tropical cyclone passed about 100 km (60 mi)* of Tongatapu in Southern Tonga, where it caused gale force winds and minor damage.[7]
  • January 1944 – A tropical cyclone impacted Southern Tonga.[9]
  • January 30, 1944 – Gale force winds were experienced on Niuafoou and Keppel Island, as a tropical cyclone moved south-eastwards in between the islands.[7]
  • January 16–17, 1946 – A tropical depression moved to the north of Fiji and Northern Tonga, before developing into a tropical cyclone near Niue on January 18.[7]
  • December 8–10, 1948 – A tropical cyclone hovered to the west of Tonga between December 8–10, before it rapidly moved eastwards and passed near Haʻapai and Niue.[9]
  • December 20 – 21, 1949 – A tropical cyclone passed in between Tonga's Ha'apai and Tongatapu group of islands, where it caused some damage to coconut trees and the nations banana crop.[4]

1950[edit]

  • February 1950 – A tropical cyclone impacted Southern Tonga.[10]
  • January 1952 – A tropical cyclone impacted Southern Tonga.[10]
  • January 1954 – A tropical cyclone impacted Northern Tonga.[10]
  • January 1955 – A tropical cyclone impacted Southern Tonga.[10]
  • February 1956 – A tropical cyclone impacted Southern Tonga.[10]
  • January 17–19, 1960 – An unnamed tropical cyclone impacted Tonga.[11]
  • March 14–19, 1961 – An unnamed tropical cyclone impacted Tonga.[11]
  • November 1963 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji and Southern Tonga.[12]
  • November 22–23, 1964 – An unnamed tropical cyclone impacted Southern Tonga.[11]
  • February 25–26, 1969 – An unnamed tropical cyclone impacted Southern Tonga.[11]
  • November 1969 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji and Southern Tonga.[12]
  • January 11–12, 1970 – An unnamed tropical cyclone impacted Tonga.[11]
  • February 11–25, 1970 – Tropical Cyclone Dolly impacted Tonga, Niue and Samoa.[11]
  • April 8–11, 1970 – Tropical Cyclone Gillian.[11]
  • April 13–16, 1970 – Tropical Cyclone Helen.[11]

1970's[edit]

Season 1970 / 1971 \ PRISCILLA

Season 1971 / 1972 \ IDA \ UNNAMED-SP7102

Season 1972 / 1973 \ BEBE \ COLLETTE \ ELENORE \ HENRIETTA \ JULIETTE

Season 1973 / 1974 \ PAM \ NATALIE-LOTTIE \ TINA \ UNNAMED-SP7301

Season 1974 / 1975 \ BETTY \ FLORA \ VAL

Season 1976 / 1977 \ KIM \ LAURIE \ MARION \ PAT \ UNNAMED-SP197707

Season 1977 / 1978 \ ANNE \ CHARLES \ ERNIE

Season 1978 / 1979 \ FAY \ LESLIE \ MELI

Season 1979 / 1980 \ OFA \ PENI \ TIA \ VAL \ WALLY

1980's[edit]

Season 1980 / 1981 \ ARTHUR \ BETSY \ DAMAN \ ESAU \ UNNAMED-1 \ UNNAMED-SP198006 \ UNNAMED-SP198008

Season 1981 / 1982 \ ISAAC

Season 1982 / 1983

  • February 1, 1983 – Tropical Cyclone Mark's remnant tropical depression moved over Tonga during February 1, before degenerating into an area of low pressure and persisting between Tonga and Niue over the next few days.[13]

\ SARAH

Season 1983 / 1984 \ CYRIL \ UNNAMED-2

Season 1984 / 1985 \ DRENA

  • January 18 – 20, 1985 – Tropical Cyclone's Eric and Nigel both moved south-eastwards through the Happai Islands, where a wharf was destroyed and 80% of the banana crops were damaged.[14][15]

Season 1985 / 1986 \ ALFRED \ IMA \ KELI \ MARTIN

  • November 25, 1986 - A tropical cyclone alert was issued for Tonga during November 25, as Tropical Cyclone Osea approached Fiji before it was cancelled later that day as the system rapidly weakened.[16]
  • December 24 – 30, 1986 – Severe Tropical Cyclone Raja caused tropical cyclone alerts and warnings, to be issued for various parts of Tonga including Niuafoou, Tongatapu and the Nomuka group of islands, before all warnings for Tonga were cancelled during December 30.[17]

\ TUSI \ WINI \ ZUMAN

Season 1988 / 1989 \ FILI \ GINA \ KERRY \ UNNAMED-1

Season 1989 / 1990 \ OFA \ RAE

1990's[edit]

  • February 2 – 5, 1990 – Severe Tropical Cyclone Ofa affected the island nation, with the worst hit islands being Niuatoputapu and Tafhai, which recorded severe damage to houses, church buildings, food crops and other vegetation.[18] Overall the system killed one person on Niuafo'ou, while the total damage was estimated at about US$3.2 million.[18]
  • March 23 - 24, 1990 - Tropical Cyclone Rae caused strong winds and high seas at the wave rider buoy at Tongatapu, Tonga, where waves of 6 m (20 ft) were recorded as the winds changed direction.[19]

Season 1990 / 1991 \ SINA

Season 1991 / 1992 \ VAL \ FRAN

Season 1992 / 1993 \ JONI \ KINA \ LIN \ MICK \ NINA \ OLI

Season 1993 / 1994 \ TOMAS


1994-95 - No TC 1995-96 - No TC

Season 1996 / 1997 \ EVAN \ HINA \ IAN \ KELI

Season 1997 / 1998 \ RON \ SUSAN \ TUI

Season 1998 / 1999 \ CORA

Season 1999 / 2000 \ MONA \ NEIL \ TROPICALDEPRESSION08F

2000's[edit]

Season 2000 / 2001 \ PAULA

Season 2001 / 2002 \ WAKA

Season 2002 / 2003 \ YOLANDE \ AMI \ CILLA \ ESETA \ FILI

Season 2003 / 2004 \ HETA

Season 2004 / 2005 \ LOLA \ OLAF \ RAE \ SHEILA

Season 2005 / 2006 \ TAM \ URMIL \ VAIANU \ WATI

Season 2006 / 2007 \ ARTHUR \ CLIFF

Season 2007 / 2008 \ DAMAN \ ELISA \ GENE

Season 2008 / 2009 \ HETTIE

  • April 3 - 5, 2009 - Strong winds and flooding caused by Tropical Cyclone Lin, knocked down several power lines in Nuku'alofa and damaged some meteorological equipment.[20][21]

Season 2009 / 2010 \ MICK \ NISHA \ OLI \ RENE \ TOMAS

2010's[edit]

Season 2010 / 2011 \ WILMA \ ZAKA \ BUNE

Season 2011 / 2012 \ CYRIL \ JASMINE

Season 2012 / 2013

  • December 12 - 14, 2012 - A tropical cyclone alert was issued for Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou on December 12, 2012, as it was thought that Evan might cause gale-force winds over the islands within 48 hours.[22] During December 14, the alert was cancelled as Evan was no longer predicted to pass close enough to the islands to produce gale force winds or any damage on either island.[23]

\ GARRY

Season 2013 / 2014 \ IAN \ KOFI

Season 2014 / 2015 \ REUBEN

  • November 27–29, 2015 – Tropical Cyclone Tuni caused strong winds of up to 55 km/h (35 mph)* on the island of Niuatoputapu.[24]

\ ULA \ VICTOR \ WINSTON \ ZENA \ AMOS

  • May 10, 2017 – Tropical Cyclone Ella passed within 15 km (10 mi)* off Niuafoou, where it caused strong winds and heavy rain and minor damage to fruit trees.[25]

Season 2017 / 2018 \ GITA \ KENI

  • Rene
  • Thomas
  • Wilma
  • Cyril
  • Jasmine
  • Cyclone Ian


  • Cyclone Ula
  • Victor
  • Winston
  • Zena

2018-19[edit]

  • 03F
  • Mona
  • 06F
  • Neil
  • 08F
  • 10F
  • Pola
  • 12F

2019-20[edit]

  • Sarai
  • Tino
  • Harold

2020-21[edit]

  • December 14, 2020 - Tropical Cyclone Zazu impacted Tonga
  • December 18, 2020 - Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasu impacted Tonga

References[edit]

  1. ^ http://www.alerts.met.gov.to/index_files/climate/future_climate.pdf
  2. ^ https://www.pacificclimatechangescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Tonga.pdf
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Visher, Stephen Sargent (1925). "Hurricanes in the Western South Pacific". Bulletin 20: Tropical Cyclones of the Pacific. Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum. pp. 37–38.hdl:2027/mdp.39015023271763
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o d'Aubert, AnaMaria; Nunn, Patrick D (March 2012). "Database 1: Tropical Cyclones (1558 - 1970)". Furious Winds and Parched Islands: Tropical Cyclones (1558–1970) and Droughts (1722–1987) in the Pacific. pp. 58–171. ISBN 978-1-4691-7008-4.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Gabites, John Fletcher (May 17, 1978). Information Sheet No. 27: Tropical Cyclones in Fiji: 1840 – 1923 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service.
  6. ^ Basher, Reid; Collen, Bronwen; Fitzharris, Blair; Hay, John; Mullan, Brett; Salinger, Jim (April 1992). "Appendix 4: Tropical Cyclones affecting the Southwest Pacific 1830 – 1989". Preliminary Studies for South Pacific Climate Change (PDF). The New Zealand Meteorological Service. p. 51. ISBN 047707345X.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Kerr I. S. (March 1, 1976). Tropical Storms and Hurricanes in the South West Pacific: November 1939 – April 1969 (PDF) (Report). New Zealand Meteorological Service. p. 81-86. Archived from the original on February 22, 2017.
  8. ^ a b Gabites, John Fletcher (May 17, 1978). Information Sheet No. 28: Tropical Cyclones in Fiji: 1923 – 1939 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service.
  9. ^ a b c Gabites, John Fletcher (March 17, 1977). Information Sheet No. 7: Tropical Cyclones in Fiji: 1939/40 – 1948/49 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service.
  10. ^ a b c d e Gabites, John Fletcher (March 17, 1977). Information Sheet No. 8: Tropical Cyclones in Fiji: 1949/50 – 1958/59 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h List of Tropical Cyclones that have affected at least a part of Tonga from 1960 – present (Report). Tonga Meteorological Service. October 6, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2017.
  12. ^ a b Gabites, John Fletcher (March 17, 1977). Information Sheet No. 9: Tropical Cyclones in Fiji: 1959/60 – 1968/69 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service.
  13. ^ Prasad, Rajendra (February 17, 1983). Tropical Cyclone Mark Preliminary Report (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service.
  14. ^ Ready, S.C. (February 12, 1985). Tropical Cyclone Eric Preliminary Report (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service.
  15. ^ Krishna, Ram (February 12, 1985). Tropical Cyclone Nigel Preliminary Report (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service.
  16. ^ Singh, Sudah (February 12, 1987). Tropical Cyclone Report 87/3: Tropical Cyclone Osea (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service.
  17. ^ Krishna, Ram (January 22, 1987). Tropical Cyclone Report 87/1: Tropical Cyclone Raja (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service.
  18. ^ a b Prasad, Rajendra (May 3, 1990). Tropical Cyclone Ofa, January 31 – February 7, 1990 (PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report 90/4). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 13, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  19. ^ Barstow, Stephen; Haug, Ola. The Wave Climate of the Kingdom of Tonga (PDF) (Report). South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  20. ^ Meteorological Report on Tropical Cyclone "Lin" (PDF) (Report). Tonga Meteorological Services. April 14, 2009. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  21. ^ http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/Meetings/RA%20V%20TCC-13/documents/Doc_4.1.doc
  22. ^ Special Weather Bulletin Number One for Tonga on Tropical Cyclone Evan December 12, 2012 23:15 UTC (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. December 12, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  23. ^ "Special Weather Bulletin Number Six for Tonga on Tropical Cyclone Evan December 14, 2012 15:37 UTC". December 14, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  24. ^ http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/RAV_TCC-16_Tonga_CountryReport.pdf
  25. ^ "Two Niuas residents are safe while Cyclone Ella moves away from the island". Tonga Broadcasting. May 11, 2017. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017.
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