APCEDI ALERT 10F/12F #25, 2005: EXTRA-TROPICAL STORM PERCY BRINGING ROUGH WEATHER TO AUSTRAL GROUP; DEPRESSION 12F ORGANISES NEAR COOKS

Percy is now an extra-tropical low pressure storm system. It is still a powerful storm causing rough seas, gales and heavy rains for French Polynesia's Austral Group and Rapa Island. The centre of the low pressure is around 32.00 South and 138 West. Meteo-France continues to issue alerts for the Austral Group of French Polynesia (L'avis de phénomène exceptionnel n°3). See details below. Authorities in French Polynesia continue to monitor Percy carefully as it will remain a strong extratropical storm as it passes south of the Austral Group. The southernmost island of Rapa is still in the storm's general track. Despite the bad weather conditions no significant damage has been reported from French Polynesia.

Meanwhile Tropical Depression 12F which lies 172 miles (275 km) to the southwest of Palmerston Atoll in the Southern Cooks is threatening to become the season's 5th Cyclone in the area. While at this point it is unclear whether a major system will form out of this depression, the convection associated with it has brought flooding earlier in the week to parts of Fiji and Samoa. Flooding in the Suva area of Fiji earlier this week caused several landslides and displaced several people.

The Fiji Meteorological Service maintains a a Strong Wind Warning for Palmerston Atoll in associations with this depression. Little damage would be expected by seas will remain rough and additional coastal erosion wil likely occur especially during high tides. Authorities in the Southern Cooks should monitor this system closely.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center has issued the Latest Tracking Map for Cyclone Percy.

The following is a full and current list of remaining Watches and Warnings in the area:

SOUTHERN COOKS
A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR PALMERSTON ISLAND.

FRENCH POLYNESIA
L'avis de phénomène exceptionnel n°3 est en cours et concerne les îles Australes.

AMERICAN SAMOA
A HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL AMERICAN SAMOA

NIUE
A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR NIUE WATERS.

TUVALU
A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR TUVALU WATERS.
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COOK ISLANDS FROM FIJI METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE

Northern and Southern Cooks
Weather Bulletin issued from NWFC Nadi Mar 051525 UTC.
A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR PALMERSTON ISLAND.

Situation:
Moist northerly winds cover the Northern Cooks.

Tropical depression 12F was centred about 172 miles southwest of Palmerston Island at 051200 UTC and is moving southeast at about 10 knots.

A convergence zone associated with 12F lies slow moving just west of the Southern Cooks.

Forecast to midnight tonight for the Southern Cooks:
For Palmerston Island: North to northwest winds 25 to 30 knots gusting to 40 knots. Winds turning westerly today and easing. Periods of heavy rain and squally thunderstorms. Seas rough to very rough with moderate to heavy swells.

For the remainder of the Southern Cooks:
Moderate to fresh west to northwest winds, gusty at times. Scattered showers with a few squally thunderstorms. Rough to very rough seas. Moderate to heavy swells gradually easing.
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FRENCH POLYNESIA ALERT FROM METEO FRANCE VIA TAHITIPRESSE

Avis de phénomène météorologique exceptionnel sur les Australes

AUSTRALES :Sur l’archipel un temps pluvieux s’installe. Des vents forts soufflent sur les régions du nord puis vers Rapa cette nuit. Les pluies seront fortes accompagnées de grains parfois orageux. L’amélioration débute demain avec un temps frais et des averses plus isolées. Sur le nord de l’archipel vent de Nord-ouest assez fort à fort.

A Rapa, le vent est modéré de secteur ouest. Il viendra au nord-ouest cette nuit en devenant assez fort puis fort. Les rafales pourront atteindre 80/100Km/Heure voire 120Km/heure sous les grains.

Un courant frais de secteur sud assez fort s’installe demain sur l’ensemble de cet archipel. Mer forte. Houle d’ouest puis de sud-ouest 3 à 4m. Les creux en mer peuvent atteindre 5 à 6m.

Société : 04/03/2005 à 17:13

La dépression Percy sur l'archipel des Australes

(Tahitipresse)  -  Après avoir longé les îles Cook, à l'ouest de la Polynésie française, alors qu'elle était encore un cyclone, la "dépression extra tropicale" Percy évolue désormais sur l'archipel des Australes, indiquent les services de Météo-France.

"Les vents soufflent de nord-ouest à 50/60 km/h en moyenne et temporairement à 70/80 km/h", précise Météo-France.
Sur l'île de Rapa, à l'extrême sud des Australes, des rafales de vent à 100 voire 120 km/h sont attendues. Toutefois, ces rafales de vent devraient faiblir dès samedi soir. Sur l'ensemble de l'archipel, "les pluies seront fortes et accompagnées parfois de grains orageux". Météo-France prévoit également une mer forte avec des creux de 5 à 6 m.


APCEDI will continue to monitor the progress of these tropical systems.

Kevin Vang
APCEDI Coordinator