Severe Tropical Cyclone "Harold" left a path of destruction across Fiji on April 8, 2020, just 2 days after its devastating impact on Vanuatu — the country's second-strongest cyclone on record. Harold's eye is passing just south of Tonga at 22:00…
A shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit the Samoa Islands / Tonga region at 16:06 UTC on March 17, 2020. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). The USGS initially reported it as M5.8. EMSC still reports it as M5.8 at a depth of 9 km…
The center of Severe Tropical Cyclone "Tino" passed over Tonga on January 18, 2020, as a Category 3 cyclone. Luckily, it only grazed the capital Nuku'alofa, previously expected to suffer a direct hit. Tino's eye passed between the Ha'apai Group…
Tropical Cyclone "Sarai" formed near Fiji on December 26, 2019, as the second named storm of the 2019/20 South Pacific cyclone season. The cyclone is expected to continue intensifying, reaching Category 2 strength late December 27, SSW of Nadi, Fiji. Sarai…
A shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit Tonga region at 13:04 UTC on December 6, 2019. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. The epicenter was located 164 km (101) WNW of Hihifo…
A shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.1 hit Tonga at 23:03 UTC on November 11, 2019, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting it as M5.9 The epicenter was located 147 km (91 miles) W of Neiafu and 251 km (156 miles) N of Nuku'alofa, Tonga….
A new underwater eruption at Tongan Metis Shoal volcano, also known as Lateiki, the source of a massive amount of pumice detected in August 2019, resulted in the creation of a new island by the end of October. This volcano is known for the creation of new islands….
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.6 hit Tonga at 22:43 UTC on November 4, 2019. The agency is reporting a depth of 13.4 km (8.3 miles). The quake hit 53 minutes after M6.1 (CSN; M6.0 USGS) near the coast of Coquimbo, Chile. It was followed…
The Aviation Color Code for Lateiki volcano, previously known as Matis Shoal, was raised to Orange at 21:20 UTC on October 14, 2019, after several observations confirmed eruption in progress. Real Tonga pilots flying between Tongatapu and Vava'u observed the…
A white plume was observed rising up to 5 km (17 000 feet) above sea level over underwater Metis Shoal volcano, Tonga at 22:06 UTC on October 14, 2019. The last eruption of this volcano took place in 1995 (VEI 2). The Aviation Color Code was raised to Orange – the…
