The ongoing heavy rain and thunderstorms affecting both the Northern and Southern Cook Islands are expected to continue, warned the Cook Islands Meteorological Service.

Met Service director Maara Vaiimene says an active cloud band is on the north of Rarotonga and an active low-pressure system is over Niue, extending to Southern Cook Islands.

This will cause the rain to persist throughout the weekend and is expected to be lighter by Saturday and Sunday.

“We’ll find intervals, say from Saturday, Sunday, and we’ll get a bit of a mix of fine and few showers,” Vaiimene told this newspaper.

“So basically, the rain will come, but not as bad as what we’re getting at the moment (yesterday). On Saturday, Sunday, we still have the light showers, but we’ll find intervals.”

Today’s weather is expected to be almost the same as yesterday’s.

Vaiimene said: “We’ll find them apart from brief showers which means that the cloud system has moved further south of us and once that cloud system move further south, it will get a bit of fine weather come from Sunday leading to the new week.”

An active trough of low pressure brought widespread rain to northern parts of the Southern Cook Islands yesterday, with associated thunderstorms and gusty winds. A southeast to north-westerly wind flow continues to dominate the region.

Suwarrow experienced significant rainfall and stormy conditions as a trough of low pressure remained just southwest of the group, bringing heavy cloud cover and rain. Meanwhile, a moist northerly wind flow prevailed over the Northern Cook Islands.

Residents in the Southern Cooks, including Rarotonga, can expect occasional rain, which may be heavy at times, accompanied by thunderstorms. Moderate to fresh southeast to north-westerly winds will persist, along with moderate to rough seas.

The outlook remains unsettled, with more rain and thunderstorms predicted for today.

Rarotonga was drenched with heavy rain throughout the day, with occasional thunderstorms adding to the unsettled conditions. The forecast suggests more of the same today, with showers expected to continue.

Elsewhere in the Northern Cooks, cloudy skies brought scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.

Moderate to fresh northerly winds contributed to rough seas, making conditions challenging for maritime activities.

With the wet conditions expected to persist, residents are advised to take necessary precautions, particularly in areas prone to flooding.

Vaiimene reminded fishermen and seafarers to remain cautious as rough seas continue to affect the region.