Good forecast bad news for those suffering from big dry

Extreme temperatures so far this summer have caused headaches for farmers, with many having to de-stock farms due to drought-like conditions.

While a prediction of sunny weather for the rest of the month will be good news to sunseekers, it's unlikely to be welcomed by those suffering from dry conditions.

After some much-needed rain earlier this week a ridge of high pressure will bring more settled weather to most of the country from today, MetService duty meteorologist Emma Blades said.

"Basically it's looking like it's going to be nice and settled apart from a few cloudy periods in the Far North and a few showers hanging on around Gisborne as well. Apart from that it's looking fine."

In Auckland temperatures were likely to reach mid-20s for the rest of the week, with blue skies and easterly winds.

Looking ahead to the rest of the month, those in the South Island and the west of the North Island could expect warmer temperatures than usual, while the rest of the country could expect on-average temperatures, she said.

Northland, and possibly Auckland and Coromandel, could also expect some "wetter conditions" due to a hint of low pressure.

Extreme temperatures so far this summer have caused headaches for farmers, with many having to de-stock farms due to drought-like conditions.

Weatherwatch.co.nz analyst Philip Duncan also predicted dry and warm weather for the rest of February.

He said while the start of February was unsettled with rain and cooler air, a large high was rolling back in. This meant calmer, drier, hotter conditions were about to return to most of the country.

Mr Duncan didn't expect much rain for New Zealand over the next week or two.

"In fact, a large high may well remain firm over most of the country for the rest of February ... which is why we are still very concerned about droughts being officially declared in some of our driest regions later this month."

Firefighters in the central North Island and the South Island have also been kept busy with a number of rural fires that have broken out this summer.

With dry conditions set to continue the New Zealand Fire Service was urging people to respect fire restrictions and be mindful of their individual actions.

Today's weather

• Whangarei Fine periods. Easterly winds. High 22C

• Auckland Mainly fine. Easterly winds. High 24C

• Tauranga Sunny with light winds. High 24C

• Hamilton Sunny with easterly breezes. High 26C

• Wellington Sunny with light winds. High 22C

Source: MetService