Campers across the upper North Island are tonight preparing to cope with torrential rain.

Extremely high humidity levels that saw parts of the country sweltering yesterday are set to ease.

The merger of two ex-tropical cyclones and a low above the skies of New Zealand today may actually decrease the predicted severe winds in some parts of the country, weather forecasters say.

Zelia is no longer a tropical cyclone, but is still expected to whip up a storm as she races over NZ.

A severe tropical cyclone bearing destructive winds and rain is expected to die down before hitting NZ this week.

Most of NZ bathed in scorching temperatures yesterday and the summer weather is forecast to continue today.

Tropical systems Vania and Zelia will merge as they head for New Zealand from different directions.

We are more familiar with El Nino, but La Nina cycles have left an imprint in Australia and NZ too.

Major South Island roads remain closed by flooding after a storm that swept through New Zealand yesterday.

A major storm has swept right through the country, leaving warm, summer temperatures for the rest of the week.

Councils are assessing damage, roads remain closed and campers are mopping up as a storm that battered many parts of the country at the peak of the summer holiday season abates.

Gale-force winds are battering Auckland while storms that have hammered campers in the South Island's Tasman region and lashed Wellington and the Wairarapa recede.

Motorists are being warned to drive to the conditions as heavy rain and strong winds lash NZ today, bringing down trees and powerlines. Hurricane-force winds have been recorded in Wellington and flooding has hit Marlborough.

Motorists are being warned to drive to the conditions as heavy rain and strong winds lash NZ today, bringing down trees and powerlines. Flooding has closed some roads and trampers and campers are being told to prepare for evacuation.

Campers are being warned rivers could rise rapidly as a moist northwesterly flow sweeps across the country today and tomorrow.

Aucklanders will be needing parasols instead of rain umbrellas on Christmas and Boxing Day because long fine spells are forecast.

Rainfall over the past few days has made a Waikato farmer's "wishes come true", but he warns its effect will not be immediate.

Forecasters are predicting we'll be using our brollies for sunshades by Christmas Day.