Massive waves up to 5m high are expected to hit the Cook Islands again tomorrow, as repairs to widespread storm damage continues.
More wild weather is expected for the Cook Islands, with people in the Southern Group told to prepare for large sea swells. (File photo) Photo: 123rf
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."
Last week and in the weekend 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.
Samoa also preparing
A severe weather warning remains in place for Samoa.
The Samoan meteorological service said swell heights were expected to remain between 2.5m to 3m for now, but they anticipated conditions would ease in the weekend.
Forecaster Aloali'i Liu said he thought the unusual storm phenomenon was linked to climate change.
"I believe there is an effect of climate change as of now. It is happening within the dry season, which is something that is a very rare occasion. However, there was an event that was like this recently in 2018."
Cars negotiating floodwaters on a road near Fatu-ma-Futi in American Samoa, last week. Photo: Supplied/ US National Weather Service American Samoa - Dora Ah Sue
On Tuesday, the US National Weather service said up to 3.5 metre waves, strong winds and rough seas were expected for American Samoa on Wednesday, and through to Thursday.
Churches helping families in need after flooding in French Polynesia
In French Polynesia many families affected by coastal flooding from the sea swells have been relying on churches for help, particularly for basic needs..
A priest from a church in the southwest of Tahiti told Polynésie La Première news they had been helping provide food.
"The district authorities have sent us a list of families that we could help out. This morning we got given five families that needed our help, and we will see five others in Papeari.
"There has been some people who have approached the church to give money directly. These payments has been used for food donations."
Some miss out on storm damage funds in French Polynesia
In French Polynesia a government compensation fund has been opened to homeowners most affected by damage from the swells, however businesses are not included.
The swells had particularly affected the south-west coast of Tahiti.
Among those who did not qualify for the compensation was family homestays.
Annick Paofai owns a family-run lodge in Teahupo'o village, and told La Première she was unhappy at missing out on compensation.
She said a wall should be built to protect the coast from being battered by swells each year.
But even without the assistance she said she would need to get repairs made quickly to be operational for the high tourist season.
"We cannot wait, even though our pockets are completely empty. We have bookings that are coming in, it is the high season. We can't tell them to go and look somewhere else."