Cook Islanders should brace themselves for heavy winds and rain over the next couple of days.

The Cook Islands MetService has issued a strong wind warning for the southern Cook Islands for the next few days.

MetService director Arona Ngari said the weather system had arrived earlier in the week, and was making its way through the islands.

“A trough of low pressure affects Southern Cooks,” Ngari said.

“It will be bringing in heavy winds over the next couple of days.”

Ngari said people should expect Northwest winds of up to 25 knots (about 48kmh) during today and tomorrow, while rain will also be prevalent.

“We could be getting up to 15mm of rain per hour at the peak,” Ngari said.

“But by Friday, we should see things clear up a bit.”

To Tatou Vai spokesman Walter Tuarae-White said the anticipated heavy rain forecast over the next few days is very encouraging and would “certainly be welcomed”.

“Hopefully it does eventuate and will provide some much needed relief to households who have been experiencing low water pressure issues in some locations across the island,” Tuarae-White said.

“Our intake streams have been decreasing rather quickly in the past couple of weeks with some only producing 50 per cent of their outflow. Avana, our largest supplier, Avatiu also has been at below 50 per cent with Ngatoe on the west side at the same level but dropping a lot faster impacting water supply around back road areas.”

Tuarae-White said there will be “fingers crossed we have enough rain in the central highlands to replenish and recharge our 10 intake catchments”.

“We will always encourage our community to conserve water and the most critical thing we can all do is ensure all leaks are repaired for a start. The amount of water loss we have because of leaks or water left to run continuously is unacceptable and not sustainable,” he said.

“So, we urge everybody to ‘Be Water Smart and Use Water Wisely’.”