The Tropical Depression TD05F extreme weather experienced over the weekend was not the worst the Cook Islands had experienced but it proved devastating enough, leaving behind a trail of destruction especially to properties in the coastal areas of Rarotonga.

The intensity of TD05F that peaked on Friday cannot be compared to fully fledged cyclones the country has faced in the past, says Arona Ngari, the director of the Cook Islands Meteorological Services (CIMS).

However it was powerful enough to cause damage to homes and establishments along the coastline in Rarotonga and some other Southern Group islands.

Ngari said: “What stands out of this is the brutal winds, rain and seas in the associated trough or cloud band that gave persistent northerly winds affecting all southern islands apart from Palmerston Island.”

“We had winds up to 35 knots gusting up to 43 knots recorded at the Met Office in Nikao and similar winds recorded at the tide gauge at Avatiu wharf.”

Waves at the high tides smashed onto Avatiu and Avarua harbour heaving ashore debris – tree trunks, branches and natural material that had been dragged from the hillsides into the streams and gushed out into the sea where it was promptly dumped back onto shore by the sea surge at both harbour sites.

The popular and iconic watering hole Trader Jacks Restaurant & Bar suffered damages but managed to withstand the onslaught of the waves and remained standing strong yesterday evening.

Coastal areas from Nikao to Matavera and properties around the island built next to the shoreline suffered damages from the force of the sea.

Ngari noted that flooding was also an issue in the last couple of days for Rarotonga when “221 millimetre of rainfall was recorded from 8am from January 21^st to 8am January 22^nd.”

The Titikaveka weather station recorded 334mm during the same period. The highest rainfall duration for Rarotonga Met Office was 38.4mm, Titikaveka had 40.1mm per hour maximum.

Homes in low lying areas, wetlands and small stream and bridges around Rarotonga were flooded from the heavy downpours that caused damage and flooding to many properties with some homeowners noting half a metre depth of water surrounding their homes.

On the west side of the island at Kavera in Arorangi on Saturday afternoon the sun was shining through, the seas were calm and the vessels from Avatiu harbour were seen sheltering out at sea in Vaimaanga.

Since the Punanga Nui market was closed, Tamaau Tairi, and Emile Tuariki set up their family fruit and vegetable stall in Kavera, which proved popular for passing motorists.