The rainfall experienced in Rarotonga this week and over the weekend is not enough to fill the reservoirs to a sustainable level, says Cook Islands Meteorological Service.

Met Service director Maara Vaiimene, however, believes the recorded rainfall should bring some relief to the levels of the reservoirs, close to 60 to 70 per cent of the capacity.

A week ago, water authority To Tatou Vai in a statement explained that due to the current dry spell, the collective water production across the island’s 10 water treatment plants dropped to less than 60 per cent earlier this month.

However, on Monday last week, the water production rose again above the 60 per cent mark but with low-rainfall predicted in the coming week, TTV reminded the public to remain conscious and continue being conservative with water consumption,

Vaiimene said the recent rainfall was caused by a short-term active cloud system that passed over the southern Cook Islands.

He said that starting Saturday evening (October 19), an active cloud system with rain was visible on the satellite radar as it approached Rarotonga from the west (Arorangi side). The cloud band moved across Rarotonga towards the east (Matavera side), and light rain fell from around 9pm to midnight.

“In the early hours of Sunday, October 20^th, Rarotonga experienced rain from 12am to 6am with a total of 48 millimetres rainfall recorded at the weather office in Nikao, from the weather station at Titikaveka Enua Manea Hall for the same time a total of 64.2mm of rain was recorded,” Vaiimene said.

The total rainfall collected for the month of October was 57.9mm as of yesterday, which is below the normal monthly total of 100mm.

As the cloud band and rain slowly moved away from Rarotonga with light showers throughout Sunday morning, heavy rain was experienced on the island of Mangaia with under 100mm recorded at different locations in Oneroa, from voluntary rainfall observers, Marolyn Nooroa 87mm, Gill Vaiimene 92mm and Sue Ngatokorua 95mm.

“The Met Office is thankful for them as they provide valuable rainfall information,” Vaiimene said.

He said the Pa Enua were also experiencing similar conditions to Rarotonga now and again.

Vaiimene also explained the strong wind warning over the weekend was associated with the active cloud systems as it passed over Rarotonga.

According to the weather office report for September, the total monthly rainfall for the month was 175.6mm. The highest rainfall of 68.2mm was recorded on September 1.

September 1 also recorded the lowest temperature of 22.9 degrees Celsius, while the highest temperature for the month was recorded on September 17, at 28.5 degrees.

As the Cook Islands enters the tropical cyclone and rainy seasons, Vaiimene has added that the current climate outlook indicates below-average rainfall and a reduced risk of tropical cyclone activity.

“With this in mind, expected rainfall will mostly come from active cloud systems passing by which can bring high rainfall in a short space of time.”