Percy pounds the South Pacific by Kirsty McCabe
Storm warnings were issued across the South Pacific this weekend as Tropical Cyclone Percy became the fourth storm in a month to hit the region. The tiny island group of Tokelau suffered widespread property damage on Saturday, but there were no reports of any deaths.
Low pressure systems such as tropical cyclones often have an onshore rush of water associated with them, known as a storm surge. If this surge combines with high tide it can be particularly damaging. This is what happened on the Atafu atoll, where the sea wall was breached and houses washed away. Debris is widespread across Atafu and also on Nukunonu and Fakofo atolls, where strong winds brought down trees, electrical and telephone lines.
Damaging gale-force winds and strong storm surges will continue to affect the Tokelau atolls as Percy travels southeastwards at about 14 mph. On its current course, Percy will pass 40 to 60 miles south of Nukunonu and 45 to 65 miles southwest of Fakofo, sparing all three atolls from a direct hit but still passing close enough to cause considerable damage to coastal areas.
Although the storm has shown some signs of weakening it remains a strong Category 2/3 with gusts of 120 mph and sea swells up to 10 m (30 ft). According to forecasts, Percy could still strengthen to a Category 3/4 storm by the time it passes over Swains Island in American Samoa, which could receive a direct or near-direct hit with very destructive winds and dangerous flooding. Authorities in the rest of Samoa and American Samoa have also raised advisories in case Percy takes an unexpected early turn towards the south. The Manu’a Islands of American Samoa are particularly vulnerable after the damage caused here by the recent Cyclone Olaf.
Once Percy moves across Tokelau and Swains Islands it will pass between Niue and the Cooks, on a similar path to Olaf, which swept through the Pacific last week. Olaf appeared on the scene just days after Nancy and two weeks after Meena, which hit at the beginning of February. The Cook Islands were worst hit by Meena and American Samoa bore the brunt of Olaf.
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