Aitutaki activates emergency centre as Tropical Cyclone Wati approaches

Friday 16 October 2026 · 2 outlets · 6 reports · updated Mon 19 Oct, 8:03am

The Aitutaki Island Council has activated its emergency operations centre as category 2 Tropical Cyclone Wati moves southeast towards the Southern Cook Islands. The system is expected to cause deteriorating conditions in the area over the coming days. The cyclone formed earlier this week in the Southwest Pacific.

How they headlined it

First reported by NZ Herald, Fri 16 Oct, 3:06pm · 6 reports from 2 outlets over 3 days

NZ HeraldFri 16 Oct, 3:06pm

Cyclone alert in force for Cook Islands as tropical depression intensifies (opens in new tab)
- Cook Islanders urged to be prepared for potential tropical cyclone (opens in new tab) Fri 16 Oct, 8:47pm
- Cook Islands cyclone Wati forms as settled weather continues across New Zealand (opens in new tab) Sun 18 Oct, 5:00am
- Aitutaki braces for Tropical Cyclone Wati (opens in new tab) Mon 19 Oct, 7:12am
StuffSat 17 Oct, 5:02pm

First tropical cyclone of season forms early in Southwest Pacific (opens in new tab)
- ‘Like nothing you've experienced’: Kiwis in the path of Pacific cyclone (opens in new tab) Mon 19 Oct, 8:03am