"Generally, today is a lot more settled. We do have a few showers over the North Island, but there's a lot of fine weather over most of the country."
Today's brighter conditions follow a belt of heavy rains and thunderstorms in parts of Auckland -- particularly south of the city, in Pukekohe, over the Manukau Harbour and Bombay -- where the heavy rainfall caused surface flooding.
There were also heavy rains west of the city, in the Waitakere Ranges.
Those in Hamilton, Whangarei, Gisborne and Wellington will also see fine conditions today and temperature highs ranging between the early to mid-20s.
Palmerston North is forecast to reach up to 29C and an overnight high of 18C. Other areas in the North Island -- Tauranga, Taupo, Napier and New Plymouth -- will be mostly fine and warm throughout the day, save for some morning drizzle or the odd shower.
Blenheim is the hottest place to be today. A high of 30C is forecast. Other areas set to feel the heat are Whanganui, Wairarapa and Manawatu regions, which all have temperatures reaching about 27C.
The South Island is also forecast to be fine in most parts, including in Christchurch, Greymouth, Dunedin and Invercargill. Most areas have temperatures high in the early 20s, except for Queenstown which has a high of 26C today.
Forecasts from MetService
Auckland
Today: Fine spells, 26C
Tomorrow: Fine spells, 27C
Wednesday: 26C
Whangarei
Today: Fine spells with the chance of a shower, 25C
Tomorrow: Fine spells with the chance of a shower, 26C
Wednesday: Fine spells, 26C
Tauranga
Today: Showers with a chance of thunder, easing, 23C
Tomorrow: Morning cloud, 26C
Wednesday: Mainly fine, 25C
Wellington
Today: Fine, 24C
Tomorrow: Some cloud, 23C
Wednesday: Mainly fine, 25C
Christchurch
Today: Morning cloud, 23C
Tomorrow: Mainly fine, 26C
Wednesday: Some cloud, 26C