Not many stand out points today in terms of extremes as again almost the entire country is free of showers or drizzle apart from the occasional speck in the far north east.

Fiordland could also see some showers move through later today but otherwise it’s mostly dry for the rest of us with considerable sunshine.

A few eastern coasts from Gisborne to Canterbury are seeing cloudy areas as a result of the very weak southerly that moved through late yesterday and overnight.

Winds are generally light to a little breezy about a few eastern coasts but in the main air across the country is of a genteel nature.

Warmest temperatures this afternoon appear to be over the upper half of the North Island including the three main centres of Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga

Inland areas of the South island are also starting to heat up in areas such as Alexandra, Wanaka, Twizel and Lake Tekapo.

Highs shouldn’t top 30 degrees like they did yesterday for the country but the mid and high twenties could be topped before the day is out.

Billion dollar drought?

The big dry affecting large parts of the country could cost the economy a billion dollars, the Government has warned.

Yesterday the state of drought, already in place in Northland, was officially extended to cover South Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay, by Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

There are calls for the designation, which allows affected farmers to collect financial support, to be extended further to cover Rangitikei and Manawatu.

WeatherWatch.co.nz