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Cyclone Rene Bears Down on Tonga

By Andy Turpin | February 12, 2010 | Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga |
Hang onto your hats. Here comes Rene.

© Fiji Met Service

As we go to press with this edition of ‘Lectronic, we’ve just been informed that a nasty category 2 cyclone, dubbed Rene, is bearing down on the Kingdom of Tonga and is expected to build in intensity. Category 2 is defined as carrying maximum sustained winds of 83 knots or higher.

Although we are awaiting firsthand reports from cruisers in the area, Fiji Met Service reports "Global models generally agree on a WSW track into an area of decreasing shear with further intensification within the next 24 to 36 hours." The service’s last posting had the storm center near laltitude 13.8S and longitude 167.4W.

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