Situation Report on Tropical Cyclone RAE (Category2)

THE KINGDOM OF TONGA

NATIONAL DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT OFFICE NATIONAL

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE

SITUATION REPORT

Event: Tropical Cyclone RAE(Category2)

Sit Rep No: 02

Date: 24^th February, 2025 Period: 23/02/25, 0800 Hrs - 24/02/25, 1000 Hrs

The National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) has issued a situation report to update operational partners on the status of Tropical Disturbance 09F, which was upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Rae (Category 1) yesterday at 1900 hours. This morning, the system further intensified into a Category 2 cyclone at 0730 hours.

Figures 1 & 2: Display the current and forecasted track of Tropical Cyclone RAE (Category 2), highlighting areas of interest across the eastern Tonga group. The system is expected to pass over Vava’u today, Ha’apai tomorrow morning, and potentially impact the main island of Tongatapu between Wednesday and Thursday. Response planning efforts are also being prioritized for all eastern communities across Tonga’s island groups.

Highlights

• The Fua‘amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (FTCWC) reported at 1900 hours on February 23rd that the system had intensified into Tropical Cyclone RAE, classified as a Category 1 system .

• At 2100 hours on February 23rd, all Island National Emergency Ope rations Centers (NEOCs) were still activated and operational on standby mode to enhance monitoring efforts and facilitate real-time community -level reporting. This ensures stakeholders remain informed about the current status and forecast track of Tropical

Cyclone RAE (Category 1).

• Consistent maintaining communication with the islands of Niuatoputapu and Niuafo‘ou remains a priority. Initial impact assessments by local government on the ground indicates no major damage to infrastructure, and all residents are reported to be safe and well cared for, as confirmed by local officers.

• As of 0730 hours February 24^th this morning, the latest update from the FTCWC confirms that Tropical Cyclone RAE has intensified into a Category 2 system.

Figures 1,2, 3: Display the current and forecasted track of Tropical Cyclone RAE (Category 2).

A. Background

Tropical Cyclone "RAE" has intensified into a Category 2 system and located near latitude 16.7 South and longitude 179.1 West, or about 390 km west southwest of 'Esia (Niuafo'ou), or 575km west of Hihifo (Niuatoputapu), or 585km west northwest of Neiafu (Vava'u), or 610km northwest of Pangai (Haapai), or 640km northwest of Nukualofa (Tongatapu), or 680km northwest of Ohonua (Eua) at 6am this morning. The sustain winds of 50-55 knots (100-110km/hr) near the centre and gust up to 70-75 knots (140-150 km/hr). The system is currently moving south southwest at the speed of 8 knots (16km/hr). TC RAE is expected to gradually intensify into a Tropical Cyclone Category 3 in the next 24 hours. Associated clouds with heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong to gale force winds will affect the Niuas while strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms extend onto Vava'u, Ha'apai, Tongatapu and 'Eua.

B. Current situation

1. Situation Overview

1.1 National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC)

At 2100 hours on February 23rd, the NEOC issued a notification regarding the intensification of the system, classified as Category 1, and confirmed the full activation of the Island Emergency Operation Centre (IEOC) through direct calls.
NDRMO staff continue working in eight-hour shifts, with designated officers responsible for monitoring the situation and disseminating public awareness updates.
Public awareness efforts remain consistent and ongoing across social media platforms and other communication channels.
Direct check-in calls to local government authorities are being conducted regularly to support the dissemination of precautionary preparedness measures.
As of 0730 hours this morning, all IEOCs have been contacted to inform them that Tropical Cyclone RAE has intensified to Category 2. Additionally, communities in eastern Tonga, located near the forecasted track, have been notified.

1.2 Report from the Islands

As of 0700 hours this morning, the NEOC team successfully established contact with all island EOC focal points, confirming that all communication channels are operational. The situation reports for the following islands are as follows:

Island	OIC Focal Point	Focal Point Contact	Current Situation
Niuatoputapu	Mikaele Fuimaono District Officer Kolofahina Tuítupou Police Officer	7716629 7512192	Mikaele reports Niuatoputapu this morning consists of occasional showers accompanied by low to moderate winds. The entire island remains overcast, with cloudy skies persisting throughout the day. No severe weather impacts have been reported at this time, and conditions remain unchanging.
Niuafo’ou	Álani Tonga Police Officer	7746141	Inspector Álani reports that the current weather conditions this morning at Niuafo‘ou consist of light showers and moderate winds. The sky remains overcast across the island. There have been no significant impacts recorded due to the weather. The current situation in Niuafo‘ou is similar as of yesterday’s report, where no major effects have been observed or reported.
Vava’u	Vava Lapota Neiafu, Town Officer	7701640	The current weather condition in Vava’u consists of occasional rain with light winds and overcast conditions remain across the island. The impact remains low with no major issues has been reported at this time.
Ha’apai	‘Apaita Tuivailala	7741905	The current situation in Haʻapai this morning consists of light winds and partly cloudy conditions across the island with occasional rain. There was no impacts were reported.
‘Eua	Siale Tahaafe MET Officer	7737525	Siale reported that the current weather in Eua consists of light rain, moderate winds, and overcast conditions across the island. No impacts were reported at this time.

Table 1: Island OIC reports as part of Island NEOC protocols.

1.3 Current Contact List to Outer Islands EOC

As of 0700 hours (7:00 AM) this morning, the NEOC team has successfully informed all island EOC focal points about the current status and track map of Tropical Cyclone RAE (Category 1) to support the dissemination of precautionary preparedness measures.

ROLE

NAME

PHONE NUMBER

OIC VAVA’U

Lucy Fa’anunu

7512757/7401911/8774795

OIC HA’APAI

Siniua Vailala

‘Apaiata Tuivailala

7202670/7799990

7741905

OIC ‘EUA

Hoifua

Siale Tahaafe

Tupou Lataimaumi

7209761

7737525/8701280

7737525

NIUA FO’OU

District Officer

Fakafofonga Pule’anga

Polisi

Pule TCC

MEIDECC Officer

Sione Fuimaono(Fataulua)

Sione Mausia(‘Esia)

‘Alani Tonga(‘Esia)

Malakai (Sapa’ata)

Tangimausia Kalu (Energy)

7581683

7716180

7746141

7581207

7731929

NIUA TOPUTAPU

District Officer

Pule TCC

Polisi

MEIDECC Officer

Mikaele Fakasi’i’eiki Suliasi

Kolofahina Tu’itupou

Palavi Lefai (Meteology)

Pita Halapua

7716629

7728193

7512192

7717779

7710170

Table 2: Island OIC reports as part of Island NEOC protocol

2. Clusters

 The Clusters were on standby for any immediate response.

	Name of Clusters	State of Activation
1.	Logistics Cluster	Not Activated
2.	Emergency Shelter & NFI Cluster	Not Activated
3.	HNWASH Cluster	Not Activated
4.	Safety & Protection Cluster	Not Activated
5.	Food Security & Livelihood Cluster	Not Activated
6.	Critical Services Cluster	Not Activated
7.	Education Cluster	Not Activated
8.	Emergency Telecommunication Cluster	Not Activated
9.	Economic & Social Recovery Cluster	Not Activated
`10.	Reconstruction Cluster	Not Activated
11.	Displacement & Evacuation Management Cluster	Not Activated

Table 3: Operational Clusters

b. Evacuation centre

 No evacuation centre is activated as of this reporting period.

c. Deactivation

 NA

d. Further updates

The next Situation Report (Sitrep) will be issued at 1000 hours (10:00 AM) tomorrow or earlier if new information becomes available. However, if the system, currently classified as Category 2 per the FTCWC's 0730-hour update this morning, undergoes further intensification and impact, updates will be provided more frequently by established protocols.

~END~