Balmy June heading for a record

Nearly all the snow that fell at the beginning of June has melted at Coronet Peak ski field. Photo / Facebook

The unseasonably mild winter has been good news for some - but not if you are a skier.

Nearly all the snow that fell on the Coronet Peak ski field, near Queenstown, earlier in the month has melted, and the "Big Defreeze" has impacted on the the town's annual 10-day Winter Festival, which began on Friday.

The lack of snow meant some events had to relocate.

Festival director Lisa Buckingham said it was the first time the GoPro Mountain Bikes on Snow and Skin to Summit events would be held at The Remarkables Ski Area. For only the second time in its 42-year history, the DB Export Dog Derby will also take place at The Remarkables.

Early-season snow conditions have favoured The Remarkables this year and Coronet Peak has had to wait for the next weather system to rebuild its snow base.

"[The] festival is held when it's only the start of winter so we always plan for this possibility," Buckingham said. "We are lucky we have the choice of two ski fields on which to stage our mountain events and that staff at those fields are experienced at adapting to the conditions."

The mix of mild temperatures and heavy rain will continue across much of New Zealand.

A barrage of low pressure systems coming from the Tasman has been bringing the warmer weather, MetService forecaster Tom Adams said.

"Heavy showers will continue into the middle of next week, and so will the unusually warm temperatures," he said.

"There are still severe weather warnings in place for the eastern Bay of Plenty, where the rivers are still quite swollen but, in general, temperatures will be fairly pleasant."

Last night the MetService said Napier is set to be one of the warmest places in the country today, when temperatures are expected to hit 19C.

Auckland will be wet today, but temperatures should reach 17C and Wellington is expected to top 16C. Christchurch will be much cooler, at 12C, because of a southerly.

"Places in the east will be drier into Monday.," Adams said.

"On Wednesday, another low looks like coming from the Tasman bringing further rain and mild temperatures in the northern parts of the North Island."

WeatherWatch analyst Philip Duncan reckoned this month could turn out to be one of the mildest Junes on record.

"Temperatures have been well above average day after day, right across the country," he said.

"There is no real end in sight. It could be the second week in July before winter really kicks in."

Sunday showers

Whangarei: Showers, chance heavy with hail. High 18, low 11

Auckland: A few showers, possibly heavy in the afternoon with thunder. High 17, low 11

Tauranga: Showers, some heavy with hail, a chance of afternoon thunder. High 18, low 10

Napier: Chance of early shower, then mostly sunny. High 19, low 9

Wellington: Cloudy, few showers, possibly heavy. High 15, low 11

Source: MetService