Tonga hit by tropical cyclone

An infrared satellite image shows the category 2 tropical cyclone Lin passing over Tonga at 9am this morning. Photo / MTSAT

Tropical Cyclone Lin made a direct hit on Tonga this morning.

It is a Category Two storm, with winds of 100 kilometres an hour and gusts of 150 kilometres an hour.

Weather Analyst Philip Duncan says the cyclone has enough power to cause damage.

He says because it is passing directly over Tonga it will cause a storm surge, with very large waves and very high tides.

There is no information on the storm from the kingdom itself so far.

Fiji's Meterological Office says flooding caused by storm surges is likely in the wake of the cyclone.

Mr Duncan expects the cyclone's track will take it well east of New Zealand.

* Weatherwatch.co.nz is tracking the cyclone's progress.

- NEWSTALK ZB