Some parts of New Zealand are starting to dry out faster than usual with regions like Waikato, Manawatu, Wairarapa and North Canterbury all showing signs of drier than usual soil moisture levels, which in turn slows pasture growth.

The latest rain forecast map compared to normal, issued by the US Government for New Zealand, shows the drying out trend expanding over the next seven days as a band of high pressure from south of Australia rolls in.

There are some rain makers, mostly coastal and short lived, and although a sub-tropical low later this week has the possibility of bringing heavy rain to some north eastern coastal parts of the upper North Island, over 90% of the rain looks to be falling out at sea.

It’s not all doom and gloom, while next week looks dominated by more dry high pressure there may be some Tasman Sea rain makers developing later next week and next weekend (10 to 12 days from now). Not locked in yet, but usually October does have a variety of weather and it’s normally November that sees a calming down affect to our weather pattern around New Zealand. 

HOW MUCH RAIN IS COMING? The deeper the red the drier it is. THe darker the blue the wetter iit is. White = normal rainfall. Map created by the US Government.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz