Residents of the Cook Islands are being advised to brace for ongoing wet weather, with rain expected to persist throughout the weekend and well into next week.

According to the latest weather bulletin from the Cook Islands Met Office, moderate rain begins today (Friday), with lighter showers forecast for Saturday and Sunday. The pattern of light rain is predicted to extend from Monday through Thursday next week.

In its bulletin yesterday, the Met Office humorously noted, “Oh, darling, get ready - the chances of it being extra wet this month in the Northern Cooks are pretty much like your dad's blood pressure when he sees your school report card - off the charts!”

While the Northern Cook Islands is bracing for wet conditions, the Met Office reassured those in the south, saying, “Nothing to see here for my fobulicious (sic) peeps down South - no alerts, just another month of smooth sailing.”

However, despite the light-hearted tone, a strong wind warning remains in force for the waters of the Southern Cooks, where southeasterly winds of 20 to 25 knots are expected over waters and 15 to 20 knots over land, gusty at times.

Seas are expected to be rough, with moderate southerly swells. Occasional showers and isolated thunderstorms are also forecast.

In Rarotonga, residents can expect occasional showers and isolated thunderstorms, with the possibility of heavier rain and a few thunderstorms as the week progresses.

In the Northern Cooks, occasional heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected, particularly around and east of Manihiki, with cloudy periods and lighter showers elsewhere.

May marks the transition from the wet season to the dry season, but the Met Office reminded everyone, “May isn’t just the kick-off for winter-bod season - it's also the teaser trailer for our dry season! Get ready for it to peak, or should I say, leave us high and dry, right before cyclone season swoops in like a dramatic plot twist.”