12 Jan 2006

Cyclone alerts issued as storms develop in Tonga and Wallis and Futuna

12:21 pm on 12 January 2006

Forecasters in Fiji have begun issuing special weather bulletins on a developing storm in Tonga and another in the French territory of Wallis and Futuna.

An unnamed tropical depression is heading towards the northern Tongan island group of the Two Niuas, with wind speeds of up to 46 kilometres an hour, increasing to 90 kilometres an hour tonight and tomorrow.

The storm is expected to intensify slowly and may become a tropical cyclone within the next 12 hours.

Another unnamed tropical depression is moving towards Futuna, with winds of up to 46 kilometres an hour, increasing to 90 kilometres an hour tonight and tomorrow.

The storm is expected to intensify slowly and may become a tropical cyclone within the next 12 hours.