The dogged drizzle is set to depart Dunedin today and make way for blue skies, as lifeguards cut patrols across the city.
Niwa National Climate Centre principal scientist Chris Brandolino said Dunedin would have less than 5mm of rain in the week starting today.
This afternoon will start a period of "extended dryness'' and warmer weather, he said.
"That will last until to at least Thursday of next week, but we'll see if it goes beyond that.''
An average month of rainfall in the Dunedin suburb of Musselburgh in January is 73mm.
As of Thursday, 81mm had fallen there.
The last ‘‘dry day'' in Dunedin was January 21.
MetService meteorologist Lisa Murray said former tropical cyclone Victor had pushed moisture on to the South Island east coast.
Morning and evening cloud was forecast for Dunedin today and tomorrow but blue skies were forecast at other times.
The blue skies would continue on Monday and Tuesday, she said.
Dunedin Airport has had 65.8mm of rain in January so far.
The mean January rainfall between 1992 and 2003 at the airport was 82mm.
"Although it feels like we've had loads of rain, it's been quite light ... a persistent drizzle.''
At Dunedin Airport, 187.6mm of rain fell in January 2000, and 19.8mm fell in January 1998.
As of yesterday, Dunedin had had 17 wet days in January.
The typical number for January was nearly 15.
"We are above average for the number of rain days that we've had, even though the total [rainfall] is not above the average.''
Surf Life Saving New Zealand Otago and Southland club support officer Sam Clutterbuck said yesterday was the last week day of the season for lifeguards patrolling Dunedin beaches Brighton, St Clair, St Kilda and Warrington.
The volunteer patrols would be on duty in the weekends until March 13.
During the season there had been 15 rescues and no drownings.
