Special observations collected during the 1997-8 El Niño event along the coast of Peru and Ecuador have been re-evaluated, together with NCEP reanalyses and satellite imagery for the period. We had previously composited the special pilot balloon observations with respect to rainfall measurements made over the region to describe the wet- and dry-day characteristics. Recently, we have generated composites of satellite imagery and meteorological fields derived from the NCEP reanalyses and we have revised the composites done previously. We will show the mean fields associated with wet and dry days, together with the evolution of these fields. Satellite composites for the different periods will also be shown. Using these results we discuss the implications for a weather forecasting network over the region that experiences little rainfall, but when it occurs it is very important. The kinds of observations that might be needed for such a network, which might be temporary rather than permanent, are outlined.