Tropical Cyclone Xavier Triggers Storm Warnings for Three Northern Cook Islands
Storm warnings are in effect for Penrhyn, Manihiki and Rakahanga in the northern Cook Islands as Tropical Cyclone Xavier strengthens. Forecasters at the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in Nadi warned Sunday, November 15, that gusts could reach 130 km/h and heavy swells could flood low-lying coastal areas at high tide.
Xavier was a Category 1 tropical cyclone with sustained winds near its center of about 65 km/h. The storm was moving west, and forecasters expected it to strengthen over the next 24 hours.
Heavy rain and dangerous seas expected
The three islands could see heavy rain, squally thunderstorms and very high seas. The forecast track showed Xavier passing about 140 kilometers north-northeast of Manihiki late Sunday morning local time before moving northwest of the island.
