The rainy spell currently affecting Rarotonga is expected to continue throughout the weekend, according to the Cook Islands Meteorological Service.

Met Service director Maara Vaiimene said an active cloud band still remains between the Northern and Southern Cook Islands and will continue to bring showers over the group.

“High relative humidity either at night or day are indications of possible showers or rain,” Vaiimene told Cook Islands News.

“Leading to the end of the week we will continue to experience cloudy conditions and patches of rain with fine intervals at times.”

Rarotonga and the Pa Enua experienced heavy rain over the weekend and have seen spells of heavy downpour this week.

According to Vaiimene, the rainfall recorded at the Met Office from Monday, December 9, to Tuesday, December 17, was 157 millimetres.

During Saturday, December 14, from the hours of 10am to 1pm, the Met Office recorded 81mm of rainfall “causing flash flooding on Rarotonga”.

“This is the highest recorded in just over seven days and more in caparison to the past months,” Vaiimene said.

Low-lying areas around Rarotonga were flooded, and strong water currents washed debris from the sea onto the shores, prompting cleanup efforts at various locations.

Vaiimene said: “The weekend weather is another reason for the community to assess their homes, for loose objects or nearby overgrown trees, cleaning out the drainage if near to the home ensuring no rubbish along the creeks to minimise drainage blockages in the event of flash floods from heavy rain.”

The Met Office would like to thank the community for abiding by the warnings issued by them and the messages of preparation from Emergency Management Cook Islands.

“We also encourage the Pa Enua if they notice adverse weather in relation to a weather warning to send through images and videos to the Met Office as these helps with ‘impact-based forecast’ verification,” Vaiimene said.

“The more we do our little part the more resilient and prepared we are to severe weather.

“The Met Office appreciates feedback in relation to the weather forecasts being issued through the media and can send feedback to Met Office email mot.weather@cookislands.gov.ck.”