Much of New Zealand may be in for several days, if not a couple of weeks, of dry, hot, weather.

WeatherWatch.co.nz is predicting a large high to hold firm over the North Island for several days blocking any significant rain, especially for those that need it.  

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says it may be a worry to farmers in the east.  “From Hawkes Bay to northern Canterbury conditions are very dry.  The set up over the coming week looks hot, dry and sunny especially in the east”.

Much of the North Island and northern and eastern South Island may be hot and dry with the South Island’s east coast seeing a return to temperatures in the 30s thanks to a westerly flow.  “The high is likely to hold firm over the North Island, allowing lows in the Southern Ocean to form a ‘squeeze zone’ over the lower South Island.  That means slightly strong winds – most likely nor’westerlies from time to time – bumping up the temperatures”.

Some rain is in the picture, mainly for the West Coast and that rain is likely to weaken as it heads north – possibly bringing some showers as far as Taranaki.  “Even with some rain in the west, most populated places look set to see January end on a hot, dry, note” says Duncan.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says traditionally February is the hottest month of the year, indicating that farmers in the east may not see relief until Autumn.   “There is a positive” says Duncan, “With the tropics so active this Summer there is a heightened risk of a sub-tropical low”.

Mr Duncan says it’s been these sub-tropical lows that have helped dried out farms across northern New Zealand over the past 4 weeks.

But Mr Duncan says the talk of hot, dry, weather is great news for holidaymakers.  “The Bay of Islands, eastern Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Taupo, Nelson and Queenstown all look set to have hot, sunny, weather with temperatures in the late 20s, even early 30s for some over the next 10 days or so”.