A tropical depression that’s been brewing in Cook Islands waters has developed into a tropical cyclone.
New Zealand MetService said the category one system, named Tropical Cyclone Wati, is moving in a south-easterly direction.
This is the first cyclone in the region, arriving two weeks before the official start of the South Pacific cyclone season.
The Cook Islands Meteorological Service Director Maara Vaiimene had earlier told RNZ Pacific that the el nino weather phase over the region is contributing to the unusually early development of a possible tropical cyclone.
The Cook Islands is currently in an el nino climate situation.
The Cook Islands Meteorological Service is advising the public that the weather situation is developing and people across the Cook Islands should stay informed and prepared.
It said the Emergency Cook Islands team has a response guideline for what people need to do in the event that the tropical depression becomes a tropical cyclone.
What should you do now
- Secure loose items around your home and property.
- Check your emergency supplies and household plans.
- Fishermen, boat operators and inter-island vessels should closely monitor marine forecasts and warnings and avoid going to sea if conditions are unsafe.
- Keep checking official CIMS updates and follow advice from the relevant authorities.
Earth Sciences New Zealand is predicting elevated cyclone activity for parts of the Pacific in the coming cyclone season.
Location of Wati
At 8am today local time, Tropical Cyclone Wati was located approximately 125 km north of Suwarrow. The system has maximum sustained winds of 74 km/h near its centre, with gusts reaching 102 km/h.
Tropical Cyclone Wati is moving southeast at around 14 km/h.
On its forecast track, Tropical Cyclone Wati is expected to pass approximately 50km east of Suwarrow around 8pm tonight local time, before moving to about 180 km south-southeast of Suwarrow by 10am tomorrow local time, Saturday 17 October.
Weather conditions
For Suwarrow, people there can expect damaging gale-force winds of 65km/h with gusts up to 93km/h.
Periods of heavy rain, with squally thunderstorms.
High seas and damaging heavy swells.
Risk of coastal inundation during high tides.
For the rest of Pa Enua Tokerau, fresh to strong winds of to 55km/h with gusts to 74km/h.
Periods of rain, heavy at times, with squally thunderstorms.
Rough to very rough seas with moderate to heavy swells.
Palmerston, Aitutaki and nearby islands, strong east to southeast winds of 37 to 46km/h with gusts to of 64km/h.
Winds may strengthen to damaging gale-force of 64km/h and gusting to 92km/h.
Rain and thunderstorms developing and becoming frequent and heavy.
Seas will become rough to very rough, becoming very rough to high seas from later tomorrow and damaging heavy swells.
And for the rest of Pa Enua Tonga
Moderate to fresh east to southeast winds, becoming strong and gusty during the weekend.
Cloudy periods with occasional showers, becoming frequent and heavy at times.
Seas becoming rough, with moderate to heavy swells.
