Deluges flood Tonga by Elizabeth Saary
Intense downpours from afternoon thunderstorms hit much of the Pacific island nation of Tonga yesterday forcing residents to flee their homes as sudden flash floods inundated Nuku’alofa and Tongatapu.
Almost a month’s worth of rain fell in only six hours. The Tonga Meteorological Office at Fua’amotu recorded a phenomenal 184mm (7 inches) of rain between 1pm and 7pm yesterday. The mean monthly average for February is 221mm (9 inches) with a mean average for March of 186mm (7.3 inches).
As the heavens opened during the afternoon, roads turned into wild rivers as people in the capital were finishing work. Flash floods over 30cm (12 inches) deep swamped much of the low-lying areas. In parts of Pahu, people were wading in the floodwaters to reach their homes.
The thunderstorms were associated with an active trough that became slow-moving as it crossed the islands. Further afternoon storms and showers are likely to affect Tonga for the next few days.
Tonga lies in the central Pacific Ocean, a third of the way between New Zealand and Hawaii, and receives most of its annual rain between November and April.
Forecasters expect a heavier than usual rainy period this year for January through to March, due to the effects of La Niña, which has also given rise to some very wet weather across eastern parts of Australia over the past few weeks.
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