Keep your hat on - sunny days to stay for a little while yet

More warm weather ahead, but it won't be as hot as the past few days. Photo / Michael Craig

Keep the togs, sunblock and hats handy for the next week - especially in the east - as the sun continues to shine, but it won't be as hot as the past couple of days, forecasters say.

The high pressure will move away over the weekend with fronts moving across the south and west of the country, MetService meteorologist John Law said.

The eastern side of the country will stay dry and "very warm". Some rain and cloudy conditions will settle at the bottom end of the country around Westland, Buller and Southland, he said.

Next week should see winds turning to the southwest, which could bring rain and smiles to farmers in Otago, Canterbury and inland parts of the North Island.

"Then high pressure builds back across the middle part of next week, which brings about the return of settled weather."

The news would not be welcomed by farmers on the eastern side of the country, Mr Law said.

"There will be a few spots here and there, but the majority of the rain will be in those western areas."

The first half of the month had been very warm, but it was too soon to say if it was the hottest on record, he said.

WeatherWatch.co.nz analyst Philip Duncan said there was a greater chance of rain over the next two weeks. "While no big silver bullet of rain will likely move in, there will be 'pockets of relief' for some people desperate for rain.

"Rule number one of dry summer forecasting, never get the hopes of farmers up."

The highest chance for rain would be on the West Coast - with a high risk of rain today, tomorrow and Sunday.