Fine weather welcome, but only for some

Summer has returned for most parts of the country, but the lack of rain may be causing concern for some.

MetService spokesman Daniel Corbett said the weather had been steadily improving, with a large high building over the country.

"It is feeling more like summer."

Most of the country was set for relatively fine weather for the next 24 hours, although showers were clearing in Gisborne and arriving in Fiordland.

Auckland's week ahead was looking good, and temperatures would be in the mid to low 20s, he said.

Although this summer had not brought the crippling drought conditions seen last year, farmers in South Canterbury, Christchurch, Hawkes Bay and parts of Northland were concerned about a lack of rain.

"Napier's a bit dry, they've only had 21mm (of rain), a normal mean for their January is 64mm."

Christchurch had only had 12mm of rain, while their mean for the month was 46mm, Mr Corbett said.

Despite the warmth, mornings had been chilly.

A weak front would be bringing wet weather to Fiordland, Invercargill, Dunedin and possibly Christchurch overnight.

WeatherWatch forecasters said a large anticyclone was pushing in from the west bringing mostly sunny skies, cool mornings and hot afternoons across the country.

Temperatures would hang around the mid-teens into the first few days of February, WeatherWatch said.

Rain would weaken to drizzle and patchy showers as it moved north tomorrow, delivering very little to farmers, gardens and those in need of rain water.