The Cook Islands Meteorological Service has issued a strong wind warning for Southern Cooks waters, as wet and windy conditions continue to affect the country, with rain expected to persist for Rarotonga into next week.

According to the weather office, a weak trough of low pressure with associated cloud and showers continues to linger over the Southern Cooks, bringing with it gusty southeast winds and periods of rain.

A similar system is also affecting the western parts of the Northern Cook Islands.

In Rarotonga, moderate to fresh south to southeast winds are expected to become gusty at times, with winds over the waters ranging between 20 to 25 knots, creating rough seas.

Thunderstorms are also possible, particularly over the weekend.

The Met Service said this unsettled weather pattern is expected to continue over the coming days, with cloudy periods, showers and strong winds forecast into next week.

While the heavy rain may cause disruptions, it also brings some relief for water storage.

In previous reports and interviews, the state-owned water authority To Tatou Vai had welcomed wet weather as a “blessing”, helping to top up water catchments across Rarotonga.

The current weather is similar to December last year where according to a rainfall summary from the Cook Islands Meteorological Service, Rarotonga itself recorded notable rainfall amounts, with Nikao receiving 122.2 millimetres and Titikaveka gathering 90.2mm. These figures added up to a total of 212.4mm of rainfall for the island for that period, which was a welcome boost for the island’s water supply.

Residents are advised to take caution, especially at sea, due to the rough marine conditions.