9 Dec 2013

Tongan forecasters predict high chance of severe tropical cyclone

6:42 am on 9 December 2013

Forecasters in Tonga say there is a high chance the country will be hit by a severe tropical cyclone this season.

The Director of the Tonga Meteorological Service, Ofa Fa'anunu, says forecasters predict one or two cyclones, which runs until April.

"The likelihood of having a severe one is very high compared to... this is from statistical modelling that we've being doing compared to previous years."

Ofa Fa'anunu says forecasters are now on alert.