A high pressure zone is dominating our country today but that doesn’t mean we’re entirely cloud or shower free.

Sunshine is our biggest selling point today however bands of cloud and the odd shower are over parts of Northland, northeast Auckland region, the Coromandel and areas over Gisborne and Hawkes Bay.
Some showers along the West Coast are expected to pick up in a northerly flow this afternoon and tonight.

Temperatures overall are about a degree higher than this time yesterday as the coolest air this week is heading eastwards off our shores.

Breezes are generally fairly light however some exposed coastal areas across the north and far south are seeing it move in a little more.
Nor’ easters are also a little fresh about exposed areas of the South Island along the east coast.

This afternoon warmest temperatures should be over inland areas and especially across the north.
The last couple of days have seen nationwide highs of just the mid twenties which is a drop compared to previous weeks and months.

Tonight seems to be a cool to average night on the cards in regards to temperatures. Under clear skies the mercury is likely to be about 2-3 degrees below late March minimums and for those areas with just some cloud it’s closer to normal overnight.

The weekend is panning out to be mainly sunny for many of us but Coasters are expected to see liquid sunshine off and on over the weekend and early next week.

The good news for cricket lovers is that it appear skies will remain dry over Auckland from today until Tuesday with plenty of sunshine in the forecast and no interruptions are expected unlike the previous two tests.

Drought lifts prices

Drought conditions have pushed international dairy prices to record highs and may bump up farmgate returns, but farmers have no cause for celebration.

Prices at Fonterra’s latest online dairy auction soared to five-year highs this week, marking their seventh straight gain.

The price of a basket of dairy goods surged a massive 14.8 per cent compared with the last sale two weeks ago, reaching its highest point since December 2007.

WeatherWatch