ABC Satellite view of Severe Tropical Cyclone Ian approaching Tonga <\/p>\n
Tonga's northern islands are bracing for the arrival of a powerful tropical cyclone which is forecast to bring hurricane force winds. <\/p>\n
Tropical Cyclone Ian is currently packing average winds of 100 kilometres per hour with gusts of up to 140 kilometres per hour. <\/p>\n
It's currently a Category Four system located about 300 kilometres north west of Vava'u and is moving south east at about five kilometres per hour. <\/p>\n
Ian is expected to remain a Category Four storm for the next 24 hours and then weaken before leaving Tonga late Sunday. <\/p>\n
Forecaster Shalwin Singh from the Fiji Meteorological Service says Tonga's northern islands will feel the brunt of Ian's fury. <\/p>\n
\"As the storm tracks south eastwards, we expect the Vava'u Group and the Ha'apai Group to be the worst affected, they will encounter the severe hurricane force winds,\" he said. <\/p>\n
\"It is a severe tropical cyclone now and close to its centre we expect the average winds to be up to 90 knots and that is quite significant. <\/p>\n
\"We expect hurricane force winds - that is above 65 knots - to be within 20 nautical miles of the centre. <\/p>\n
Ian is expected to brush below Niuafo'ou, Tonga's most northerly island, in the Niua group. <\/p>\n
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Originally posted here: <\/p>\n
Tonga's Vava'u and Ha'apai islands brace for hurricane force winds from Tropical Cyclone Ian<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ABC Satellite view of Severe Tropical Cyclone Ian approaching Tonga Tonga's northern islands are bracing for the arrival of a powerful tropical cyclone which is forecast to bring hurricane force winds. Tropical Cyclone Ian is currently packing average winds of 100 kilometres per hour with gusts of up to 140 kilometres per hour. It's currently a Category Four system located about 300 kilometres north west of Vava'u and is moving south east at about five kilometres per hour Continue reading