The cyclone that had been forecast to hit the Cook Islands on Friday morning (local time) has weakened to a tropical depression.
Outer islands received strong winds, heavy rain and rough seas as the storm approached but there have been no reports of damage, emergency management director Charles Carlson says.
Schools were closed in the Cook Islands on Thursday in preparation for the cyclone.
Mr Carlson says it was a good exercise testing procedures, and agencies were well prepared.
