Farms are once again starting to dry out as continuous high pressure holds firm over New Zealand.  Much welcomed rain was received across the lower North Island yesterday but farmers in southern Canterbury and Otago are still desperate for more. 

“This week is looking relatively dry, with only a few small isolated showers about” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.  “The large area of high pressure over us means warmer highs over the North Island but much colder lows.  In the South Island a niggling southerly will keep all temperatures lower with highs barely making it to double digits – if at all”.

Duncan says a cold snap is likely this weekend.  “We’re expecting snow showers to form across Otago and temperatures will drop by Sunday as far north as Wellington.  It doesn’t look too serious at this stage but now that Winter has officially started it’s just a matter of time before we have our first real decent cold snap”.