Overall Green alert Tropical Cyclone for ZAZU-20
in Niue, Tonga

Event summary

Tropical Cyclone ZAZU-20 can have a low humanitarian impact based on the maximum sustained wind speed, exposed population and vulnerability.

GDACS ID TC 1000753
Name ZAZU-20
From - To 13 Dec - 16 Dec
Exposed countries Niue, Tonga
Exposed population No people in Category 1 or higher
Maximum wind speed 102 km/h Tropical storm
Maximum storm surge 0.2 m (15 Dec 01:00 UTC)
Vulnerability High (Niue)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS alert score click here.
Wind Storm surge Rainfall GDACS score
GDACS JTWC 102 km/h 0.2 m n.a. 0.5
Single TC: maximum expected impact (wind, storm surge, rainfall)
HWRF 112 km/h 1.1 m 640 mm 0.5
GFS 281 km/h 1.1 m 672 mm 1.5
ECMWF 198 km/h 1.6 m 673 mm 1.5
Maximum expected impact (wind, storm surge and rainfall) using different data sources.
Virtual OSOCC
Meteo assessment
Satellite products
Analytical products
Tonga, Niue - Tropical Cyclone ZAZU (ECHO 14 Dec 2020)Mon, 14 Dec 2020 02:00

  • A new tropical cyclone ZAZU (formerly known as SIX) formed on 13 December over the South Pacific Ocean and is moving south, towards Tonga islands. On 14 December at 0.00 UTC, its center was located about 25 km north-east of the inhabited Fonualei Island (Tonga), and 75 km north of Vava'u group (Tonga), with maximum sustained wind of 74 km/h.
  • ZAZU is forecast to strengthen, while moving southwards and reaching the central Vava'u in the evening of 14 December, with maximum sustained wind up to 90 km/h. After that, ZAZU will move south-east over the South Pacific Ocean.
  • Warnings for strong wind, high waves, and heavy rainfall have been issued for most of Tonga and strong wind warnings remain in force for Niue. On 14-15 December, heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and strong wind are forecast over most of Tonga, from Vava'u to 'Eua group and for Niue. 
 
Tonga, Niue - Tropical Cyclone ZAZU (ECHO 15 Dec 2020)Tue, 15 Dec 2020 10:41

  • Tropical cyclone ZAZU crossed Vava'u Island (northern Tonga) on 14 December and continued moving southeastward. On 15 December at 0.00 UTC, its centre was located about 16 km south of Neiafu Town (Vava'u Island) with maximum sustained wind of 93 km/h.
  • ZAZU is forecast to move south-east over the South Pacific Ocean passing approximately 215 km south of Niue on 16 December, and it will dissipate on 17 December.
  • Heavy rain, strong wind and gale warnings are in effect over Vava'u, Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Niuas and 'Eua. A gale warning is still in force over Niue.
Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Updates on volcanic activity (Smithsonian)

Latest media headlines

Articles: 373 | About casualties: 56 | Last hour: 0

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Estimated casualties (PAGER)

USGS estimates the number of casualties for each earthquake for the Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) product.
The graph shows the current fatalities estimate.

Exposed population

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: EC-JRC (38), (2), WMO (1), INFORM (2),