Tropical Cyclone #Tino has strengthened into a Category 2 system today, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 knots and central pressure around 970 mbar. Its center was passing very close to Vanua Levu island in Fiji earlier. Satellite imagery indicates a very deep burst of convection is really making this system rather healthy as it makes its way southeastward towards Tonga – models are now hinting destructive pass over Tonga as a Severe Tropical Cyclone of Category 3 strength tomorrow!
Satellite imagery still remain very impressive, with IR scans revealing extremely deep storms with cloud tops around -90 °C, while we can see even improving upper-level outflow ventilation to the east and north.
Radar loop from #Labasa, #Fiji seems to show the center of Tropical Cyclone #Tino passed just east of Vanua Levu sparing the island a direct strike. Labasa reported a gust to 58 mph (~93 km/h). pic.twitter.com/7bY1OikyDm
— Jason Nicholls 💙 (@jnmet) January 17, 2020
#Tino is passing very closely to #VanuaLevu in #Fiji. In the latest few frames, deep burst of convection is really making this system rather healthy as it makes it way southeastward. The forecast is calling for some strengthening, may become a Category 2 (AUS scale). pic.twitter.com/TKWUthY29o
— Julian Mille☈ (@BrokerWx) January 17, 2020
Tropical Cyclone #Tino moving away from #Fiji, but likely to bring stormy conditions to #Tonga over the weekend. pic.twitter.com/ozjk5N7v4G
— Met Office Storms (@metofficestorms) January 17, 2020
#Tropical #Pacific_Southwest #Tino (#93P) #Fiji Met Fiji radar animation to 17/0650UTC pic.twitter.com/UBFnQO4LY4
— Mike Trigger (@T2mike) January 17, 2020
Advanced Dvorak Technique (ADT) estimates suggesting raw T number 3.8, with maximum sustained winds of 60 knots and around 967 mbar central pressure. Severe winds of 50 knots are extending 65-75 miles wind radii across NE, SE and NW quadrants where the NW quadrant is brushing the eastern Fiji archipelago.
The future track of Tino remains similar to the previous model guidance, the cyclone will continue southeast and intensifying. Tino now has the potential to become the Severe Tropical Cyclone of Category 3 and reach its peak strength right at the time it makes landfall in Tonga later tomorrow (Saturday) as a strong 75 knots system.
Pretty warm ocean surface temperatures are present around the Fiji archipelago, around 30 °C, based on the Ocean Heat Content (OHC) map. Favorable temperatures will remain similar for another 24 hours when Tino peaks. It then comes into cooler waters and begins its weakening trend.
Stay tuned for further updates before Tino comes over Tonga!
See the previous discussions:
https://www.severe-weather.eu/tropical-weather/93p-explosive-convection-90c-fiji-mk/