Niue is back on the weather map.

News Release from MetService issued at 09:32am 19-Jan-2004

Niue is back on the weather map.

A MetService Technician, at the request of the Niue Government, has put the Niue weather station back into operation.

On Tuesday 6 Jan (NZ time) as cyclone HETA approached Niue the weather office remained manned and in operation until power failed and the staff sought safer shelter. The last readings taken had the wind gusting to 107 knots (198 km/hr) and the barometer reading 946 hPa. The office and equipment was extensively damaged but the Munro wind vane and cups survived along with a few thermometers and a spare thermometer screen.

Niue weather staff used this surviving equipment to renew taking manual weather observations the day after the cyclone but had no communications.

MetService technician Garry Clarke was able to quickly get to Niue and restored observing and communication equipment late last week so that Niue weather data is back on the weather map.

"We in MetService want to do all that we can to help our Niuean neighbours in getting back into operation as soon as possible," commented MetService Weather Ambassador Bob McDavitt. "Weather observing is the life-blood of weather forecasting."

ENDS

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