Parts of Otago are in line for thunderstorms today before a large anticyclone settles over the country, bringing up to 10 days of warm and dry conditions to most regions.
MetService says eastern and North Otago and parts of Canterbury could experience thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, with the possibility of localised heavy rain and hail.
By tomorrow, the rain should disappear across many parts of New Zealand during the next week as warm pressure off Australia heads this way.
According to Weatherwatch, the entire North Island and a large portion of the South Island will lean drier than normal over the next seven days.
Apart from the storms and downpours expected in Otago and Canterbury, the next 10 days look dry to mainly dry, Weatherwatch says.
The West Coast is still the only area leaning wetter than normal - but compared to recent weeks it likely won't be as wet with a sprinkling of dry and sunny days in the 10-day forecast.
"Southland, which has been a bit wetter and cooler lately, especially noted by farmers and growers, will also see a more positive swing into warmer and drier weather, along with Otago," Weatherwatch said.
Temperatures remain spring-like, up and down, but overall a drier, milder, pattern is trying to push through, the forecaster said.
The upper South Island, such as Nelson and Marlborough and into Wellington, also all look completely dry or mainly dry over the next week.
The eastern North Island, such as Wairarapa, Hawke's Bay, Gisborne and Bay of Plenty all look much drier than normal for this time of year, with no rain forecast and mostly sunny and mild weather.
Auckland - which is in a rainfall deficit this year just like Waikato - also has a mostly dry and mild week ahead with only today bringing any real chance of showers.
"Early next week the dry continues and Auckland's daytime highs lift up above average too."
Taranaki, which has been wetter than usual lately catching the outer edges of all the West Coast rain, also leans drier than average for the week ahead.
