Fears of a last minute turn around by Cyclone Kofi do not appear to be warranted with the cyclone passing 1,100 kilometres due south of Samoa yesterday morning.
After forming as a tropical depression near Fiji two days ago, the cyclone headed in a south east direction towards Tonga.
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Cyclone Kofi intensified but did not change direction and was still heading south east past Tonga last night, at about 11 knots.
Matangi Tonga reported that “Tropical Cyclone Kofi brought heavy rain and gusts of up to 48 knots (90kmph) to Tongatapu early this morning as the system moved to the southwest of Tonga, causing broken branches and sea flooding of low lying areas, but no major damage has been reported at this stage.”
At noon yesterday, Radio Australia quoted Tonga Meteorological Services as saying that “a cyclone warning remains in force for waters south of Tongaapu and Eua, but is now cancelled for land areas of Tongatapu, Eua and Ha'apai.”
Meanwhile, for Samoa, the Meteorological Division said that an active convergence zone remains in the vicinity of Samoa.
Associated showers and fresh to gusty winds continue to affect the group. A wind advisory remains in effect for all of Samoa.
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