The Northern Cook Islands will continue to experience the dry spell, says Cook Islands Meteorological Director Arona Ngari.

According to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), during the months of January to March, the northern Cook Islands like other parts of the Pacific Islands is experiencing dry conditions.

And between the months of January to March, part of Cook Islands did experience some extreme or exceptional drought.

NIWA’s forecast shows that there could be an ease of water stress conditions for the northern Cook Islands – meaning there could be a quantity of water available, despite the dry condition this month.

However, the forecast summary shows the northern Cook Islands will still experience drier conditions until June.

NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll on the Island Climate update said an El Nino watch has been issued because El Nino could develop as early into the middle of this year.