Fine weather fades as rain sweeps in

The fine weather which graced the country for most of January has gone, with widespread showers expected to put a cloud over Waitangi Day, forecasters say.

MetService duty forecaster Ciaran Doolin said the coming week would mark an end to the finer weather that had been enjoyed by many but had put farmers on edge.

A lack of water in Otago has started to turn parts of the region into dry dust-bowls. The fire risk has soared and parts of the region are on track for their driest January on record.

In Wairarapa, Carterton mayor John Booth last week said the dry conditions had left the district at a "tipping point".

"We're not at the panic point yet, but we are at a crucial stage. It's verging on becoming a serious problem."

Mr Doolin said a weather system currently moving up the country was bringing a lot of rain to western areas of the country.

"That should ease from the south of the South Island tomorrow evening, but going into the rest of the week it should be more showery in the west coast of the North Island and clearing up on Tuesday and Wednesday along the east coast.

"But there's still going to be a bit of precipitation around on the west coast of the North and South Island in the earlier part of the week.

"Later in the week there's going to be more showers developing, which will be more widespread.

"Basically, it's going to be not as good as it's been recently."

Auckland could expect occasional showers this evening which would continue through tomorrow, Mr Doolin said.

"It may be easing later in the evening."

Temperatures would stay in the early to mid-20s across most of the country this week, he said.

A full forecast had yet to be established for Waitangi Day on Friday, but widespread showers could be expected for most of the country in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, an online WeatherWatch poll found 26 per cent of respondents were sick of the heat and missed winter.

The poll also found 67 per cent of respondents enjoyed dry heat, compared with just 7 per cent who said they preferred more humid conditions.

- Brendan Manning of NZME. News Service

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