Tropical Cyclone Wati is moving southeast towards the Southern Cook Islands, with conditions expected to deteriorate over the coming days according to the Cook Islands Meteorological Service.
Wati currently has maximum sustained winds of around 75 km/h with gusts reaching 100 km/h. The system is moving southeast at around 14 km/h.
On its current track, Tropical Cyclone Wati is expected to be approximately:
530 km north-northwest of Aitutaki by 10am on Saturday 17 October.
100 km north of Aitutaki by 10am on Sunday, 18 October.
Aitutaki residents have been told to pay close attention to official updates as the system approaches.
For Aitutaki, fresh to strong winds of 35-45 km/h with gusts up to 80 km/h.
Winds are expected to strengthen to damaging gale force from early Sunday morning, averaging 75 km/h, with gusts up to 100 km/h.
Cloudy periods with showers, increasing to periods of heavy rain and squally thunderstorms from tomorrow, Saturday.
Rough seas with moderate to heavy swells. High seas are expected from Sunday morning.
For the rest of the Southern Cook Islands, moderate to fresh southeast winds, strengthening from later tomorrow.
Strong winds averaging up to 45 km/h, with gusts up to 90 km/h.
Cloudy periods with showers, increasing to periods of heavy rain and squally thunderstorms from tomorrow.
Seas becoming very rough, with moderate to heavy swells expected from early Sunday morning.
