Focus: Kaikohe dairy farmer Terence Brocx battles the worst drought in years. Video / Chris Tarpey
Rain is falling in Auckland.
Light rain is visible in the CBD but it unclear whether it will be sufficient to break the city's record dry spell of consecutive days with less than 1mm of rainfall.
And roading officials are warning that much needed rain brings the risk of "summerice" as dry roads become slippery.
The city is heading for a top of 28C today before hitting a high of 26C tomorrow with morning showers having a chance of developing into thunderstorms by midday before clearing in the evening.
Warm northwesterlies cover much of Aotearoa, as a couple of cold fronts move up the country. It was a warm humid night for much of the North Island with Whakatane steady at 22C for much of last night and near 100% humidity. Here too are the maximum temps we can expect today.^AB pic.twitter.com/3mjOFG4Jww
Sunday is set for a cooler 24C with one or two showers before the fine skies return next week, MetService said.
The forecaster said Auckland Airport had only received 8mm of rain so far this year.
Rain is coming - even a tropical cyclone - but it won't be enough to break the drought. Photo / Alan Gibson
"Tomorrow's rain band is very welcome, but most places are likely to see less than 10mm, with spotty 10mm-20mm possible if you're one of the lucky ones," it tweeted.
"Won't end the drought, but at least the humidity eases."
Fellow forecaster WeatherWatch said Tropical Cyclone Vicky, named today by the Fiji MetService, posed no threat to New Zealand and would likely lie east of the North Island by next Wednesday.
"It may help enhance an easterly flow over northern New Zealand and perhaps encourage a few more showers our way," the forecaster said.
I wish it did in South Auckland but no rain here... Just sun, cloud and no wind. On a hot muggy day....lol
— π³οΈβπ π +πΉ...Ariki... π+πΉ π³οΈβπ (@ariki_1981) February 21, 2020
Whangarei, Hamilton and Tauranga can all expect steamy highs nearing 30C today, before showers develop tomorrow morning and have the chance to turn into thunderstorms.
By Sunday, the rain should have passed to give way to cloudy skies and then a mostly fine week ahead.
In the east Gisborne and Napier are set for highs of 30C and 31C today before having a chance of thunderstorms to hit on Saturday.
Gisborne is then forecast to have a further three days of drizzle and occasional rain along with reduced temperatures.
Wellington, meanwhile, can expect a top of 22C today and tomorrow with rain tonight clearing by afternoon tomorrow and a fine week ahead.
Test cricket is back! @BLACKCAPS and @BCCI don the whites in the capital from tomorrow. There could be a little rain around the fringes for the first few days - will it affect play? #NZvsINDpic.twitter.com/Jq6EJDzT93
In the South Island, heavy rain warnings were in place for the West Coast where showers were set to build at Franz Josef from 2pm as the town heads for a high of 18C.
"After an extended run of warm, dry summer days like we've had, any rain can result in slippery road surfaces, otherwise known as summer ice.
"Even a very small amount of rain can make the roads very slippery. In fact, it can be more hazardous than heavy rain because grime and exhaust particles that have built up on the road take longer to be washed away.
"The combination of light rain and summer grime creates a slippery film on the road," Campbell said.
