19 July 2022
Massive waves up to 5m high are expected to hit the Cook Islands again tomorrow, as repairs to widespread storm damage continues.
The Cook Islands Emergency Management office issued an alert warning the potentially damaging swells were forecast to hit Rarotonga and all Southern Group islands on Tuesday Cook Islands time (which is Wednesday in New Zealand).
"Wave conditions ...are forecast to increase throughout Tuesday, with wave heights up to 5m by Tuesday night, continuing until Thursday."
Some areas of the Cook Islands, American Samoa and French Polynesia were battered by huge sea swells that eroded roads, washed debris and boulders about and in places inundated homes and businesses.
Damage assessments and repairs have begun, but communities are now being told to batten down the hatches again.
Emergency management director John Strickland said everyone in the Cook Islands will need to prepare for the next surging seas.
"We are in the process of preparing and getting our community and the public awareness notices... prepared in the event that things might get worse for us."
Wave runup and surges could run past the tops of beaches and inundate lower lying areas, and people should expect strong surging currents, especially in Muri Lagoon, the emergency management office said. With "potential debris and wave spray across low areas of the coastal road during high tide."
People in southern areas should monitor the forecasts and conditions closely in the coming days, and "ensure you have foreshore properties prepared by Tuesday morning."
The most risk would be during high tides, which fall on Tuesday between 1:30pm to 3:30pm, on Wednesday between 1.30am to 3.30am and 2pm to 4pm, and on Thursday between 2:30am and 4:30am.
On Monday the US National Weather service cancelled a high surf advisory for American Samoa, but said up to 3.5 metre waves, strong winds and rough seas were expected for Wednesday through Thursday.
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Yours sincerely
Frank Short
