Cyclone Ian, now a category 5, is beginning to be felt in Tonga with forecasters warning to expect very destructive hurricane force winds.
A hurricane warning for the Va'vau and Ha'apai group remains in force as does a gale warning for the Tongatapu group.
At it's last forecast, the Fiji Meterological Service says Cyclone Ian was located about 74 kilometres west of Va'vau and 138 kilometres north-west of Ha'apai.
It's estimated to have average winds of over 200 kilometres with momentary gusts of close to 290 kilometres an hour.
The Fiji Met service is warning to expect very destructive hurricane force winds, flooding, thunderstorms and damaging heavy swells and phenomenal seas.
At midnight, Matangi Tonga reported residents saying the winds were getting much stronger, though not strong enough to shake the breadfruit down.
Tonga's National emergency office says disaster management committees have been activated in smaller districts and people living in the outer islands have been on stand by since the cyclone first surfaced on Monday.
It's understood patients from Ha'apai hospital on the waterfront have been temporarily moved to a school, and people living near the sea have been advised to seek shelter inland.
The office says there are a number of resorts at the waterfront in Va'vau, and they are all aware of the situation.
