RNZ Pacific

The Cook Islands Meteorological Service says Tropical Cyclone Pita has been downgraded to a tropical low

It said the system is gradually weakening and moving east southeast of Rarotonga on the morning of 11 January, local time.

The weather office said the following warnings remain in place for the Southern Cook Islands:

• A strong wind warning remains in force over land areas and waters of Southern Cooks.
• A coastal inundation warning remains in force for Southern Cook Islands.
• A damaging heavy swell warning remains in force for open waters of Southern Cooks.

"Please stay vigilant and safe throughout the day and keep up to date with our latest weather updates, should there be a change to the situation," The Cook Islands Meteorological Service said.

Bad weather in Samoa

The Samoa Meteorological Services said the active convergence zone has relocated just north of the group, while a trough of low pressure embedded within the South Pacific Convergence Zone, a persistent band of cloudiness and storms, lies over Samoa.

"Slightly improved conditions have been experienced compared to the previous few days," it said.

However, it said the warnings and advisories remain in force for all land and marine regions in Samoa include:

• Heavy rain warning
• Flood warning
• Marine warning
• Wind warning
• Coastal flood advisory
• High surf advisory

It said the potential impacts of the bad weather include:

• Heavy downpours with poor visibility
• Strong and gusty periods
• Foggy and slippery roads over mountain passes and ranges, pooling near roadsides and overflow waterways
• Possible landslides and flooding in vulnerable areas as well as major rivers
• Strong currents and very rough seas with poor visibility and gusty winds during rain
• Expect coastal inundation.

First tropical cyclone of the season

Tropical depression TD04F, which had already brought bad weather to parts of the Pacific, developed into Tropical Cyclone Pita on Friday 10 January, NZT.

Cyclone alerts were then issued for Niue by the weather office there, and for the Tonga, the met service there issued warnings for the Niuas, Vava'u and Ha'apai.

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