The high slipping away to the east continues to provide mostly sunny skies today with the exception of a few cloudy spells.

Winds remain fairly gentle Thursday midday and should do so for another couple of days yet.

Temperatures are already in the low twenties across a large majority of towns and cities and look to rise a little further this afternoon under a hot sun.

Drought conditions are seeing a number of people in rural areas continuing to get water delivered.
Hearing the news that this weekend might not be as wet as initially thought or hoped across the North Island saw one reader taking action.
Melanie got in touch with WeatherWatch and said it’s the second time in the last month that she’s had to pay for water due to the hot and dry weather and she believes her household might drink more in the heat.
“I just phoned for a water delivery. I was hoping Sunday’s rain would help out a little until the other low comes in, in a few weeks. No such luck bye bye $230 for 3000 gallons”.
Last month it was 2000 gallons and has been consumed quicker than she thought.

This appears to be a common theme across quite a few rural regions and seems to be increasing day by day and week by week.

No announcement has yet been made about further drought zones being declared but it should be days and not weeks before it comes into being.

Parts of the South Island are also needing consideration for drought zones as the Big Dry bites.
Canterbury, the West Coast, Nelson and parts of Southland and Otago are dry to very dry and just like the North island rain is needed very soon. 

The brighter news for the south is that rain is looking more promising in a few days time albeit briefly.

WeatherWatch.co.nz