Cook Islands’ northern islands faced dry conditions last month, while the south may experience similar dryness in April-June and the north could see wet weather.

All the northern group islands, except Penrhyn, experienced “serious dry conditions” last month.

And according to the weather office, the southern group islands of Rarotonga, Mauke and Mitiaro could experience “very dry conditions” between April and June.

Cook Islands Meteorological Service’s Early Action Rainfall Watch report shows that in March, at a one-month timescale, northern group islands Rakahanga, Manihiki, Pukapuka, Nassau and Suwarrow experienced “seriously dry conditions”.

However nothing extreme was observed for the Northern Cook Islands at the three, six and 12-months timescale to declare a drought.

The report also indicated that the Southern Cook Islands did not experience any extreme dry condition at the one-month timescale.

However, there were very dry conditions for Nga-Pu-Toru – Atiu, Mauke and Mitiaro – at a three-month timescale. No dry conditions were observed for the remaining timeframe (six months) for Nga-Pu-Toru, Mangaia, and Palmerston.

The weather office says that El Niño is weakening and near its end and Oceanic indicators such as tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures have been steadily cooling since December, “but are still meeting El Niño thresholds”.

The El Niño status remains until there are clear signs of a possible La Niña to appear, the report adds.

Looking at this month, there are chances of very wet conditions for Pukapuka, Nassau and Suwarrow but not so much for the rest of the Northern Cook Islands – Penrhyn, Rakahanga, and Manihiki.

In the Southern Cook Islands, there is a chance of dry conditions for Rarotonga but nothing too extreme for Aitutaki, Mangaia, Palmerston, Manuae, Takutea and Nga-Pu-Toru.

The weather office also reports that from April to June there are high chances of wet conditions for the Northern Cook Islands – Nassau, Suwarrow, Rakahanga, Manihiki and Pukapuka except Penrhyn. The outlook suggests “very wet conditions (associated with the El Niño)” are likely to persist over the Northern Cook Islands in the coming months.