Climate overview of the Cook Islands
In the Cook Islands, although there are no true wet or dry seasons, there is a noticeably wetter stretch from December to May. During the dryer period from June to November temperatures average at 26°C (79°F), spanning over seven months of mild sunshine. In spite of the warm weather, the Cook Islands is mostly windy all year-round, making it less humid than other tropical islands at this time of the year.
Meanwhile, the warm season runs from November to April when temperatures average from 22°C (72°F) at night to as high as 31°C (88°F) during the day. Warm season is when elevated levels of humidity are expected and occasional rainfall or precipitation occurs. There is nothing to worry about rainfall in the Cook Islands as it occurs mostly in the morning or in the afternoon only for a short amount of time.
Spread out over 850,000 square miles of the ocean, the fifteen islands that comprise the Cooks Islands are divided geographically into six Northern Islands and nine Southern Islands. The climate at the Cook Islands is moderate to tropical, although average temperatures and weather conditions may slightly differ for every island. To give a general overview of the climate in terms of geography, the following questions are addressed below.
What's the weather like in Northern Cook Islands?
Northern Cook Islands experience moderate to gusty winds, occasional rainfall, and thunderstorms. This is because the Northern part is somehow affected by low pressure in the air. Over the course of the year, Northern Cook Islands still gets adequate amounts of sunlight, making it an ideal tourist destination regardless of the time of the year.
What's the weather like in Southern Cook Islands?
Southern Cook Islands is where the capital, Avarua, is located. Climate is similar to the ones experienced by the Northern Cook Islands with gusty winds, mild sunshine, and, in the worst cases, isolated thunderstorms.
Popular cities by month
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Rarotonga
Arutanga
Arorangi
Rakahanga
Pukapuka
Penrhyn
Day temperature (°C)
Monthly rainfall (mm)
Monthly sunshine (hours)
Climate map
Average daily temperature, monthly rainfall & sunshine hours across cities.
Avg day temp (°C)
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Regional climate differences
Explore the climate diversity across the Cook Islands.
Compare popular cities
Average daytime and nighttime temperatures, yearly rainfall and sunshine.
| Rarotonga | 25°C (77°F) – 28°C (82°F) | 22°C (72°F) – 26°C (79°F) | 1681 mm (66 in) | 2,096 hours |
| Arutanga | 26°C (79°F) – 29°C (84°F) | 24°C (75°F) – 26°C (79°F) | 1875 mm (74 in) | 2,099 hours |
| Arorangi | 25°C (77°F) – 28°C (82°F) | 22°C (72°F) – 26°C (79°F) | 1680 mm (66 in) | 2,096 hours |
| Rakahanga | 29°C (84°F) – 30°C (86°F) | 26°C (79°F) – 27°C (81°F) | 2252 mm (89 in) | — |
| Pukapuka | 29°C (84°F) – 30°C (86°F) | 26°C (79°F) – 27°C (81°F) | 2739 mm (108 in) | — |
| Penrhyn | 29°C (84°F) – 30°C (86°F) | 26°C (79°F) – 27°C (81°F) | 1811 mm (71 in) | 2,113 hours |
FAQ
What is the best time to visit the Cook Islands?
The warmest month in Rakahanga is April, with daytime highs of 30°C (86°F). Penrhyn is the sunniest destination, with 204 hours of sunshine in August. Explore The Cook Islands weather by month for a detailed breakdown.
What temperatures can I expect in the Cook Islands?
Rakahanga is the warmest destination, reaching 30°C (86°F) in April with nights around 27°C (81°F). Rarotonga is the coolest, with August daytime highs of just 25°C (77°F) and nights dropping to 22°C (72°F). Temperatures are relatively stable throughout the year. See the city comparison for a full overview.
How much rain does the Cook Islands get?
Rainfall varies across the Cook Islands. Pukapuka is the wettest, receiving 2739 mm (108 in) per year, with February the wettest month at 359 mm (14 in). Arutanga is the driest at 1875 mm (74 in) per year. Use the climate map to explore rainfall patterns across regions.
How sunny is the Cook Islands?
Penrhyn is the sunniest destination in the Cook Islands, enjoying 2,113 hours of sunshine per year, with August the brightest month at 204 hours. Overall, the Cook Islands enjoys abundant sunshine year-round. Compare sunshine across cities in the charts above.
What is the climate like across the Cook Islands?
Rarotonga has warm summers reaching 28°C (82°F) in March and warm winters dropping to 25°C (77°F), with 2,096 hours of sunshine and 1681 mm (66 in) of rain per year. Arutanga has warm summers reaching 29°C (84°F) in March and warm winters dropping to 26°C (79°F), with 2,099 hours of sunshine and 1875 mm (74 in) of rain per year. Arorangi has warm summers reaching 28°C (82°F) in February and warm winters dropping to 25°C (77°F), with 2,096 hours of sunshine and 1680 mm (66 in) of rain per year. Explore the climate charts and comparison table for more cities.
Places in the Cook Islands
Select a city to see its average temperature, precipitation and hours of sunshine over the year.
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Nearby countries
Australia
New Zealand
French Polynesia
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
VanuatuTravel inspiration
Must-visit destinations and experiences across the Cook Islands.
