It’s been an active weekend across the country and we summarise the events of the last 48 hours.

Fire
Firefighters battled steep terrain and had limited water supplies to contain a large scrub fire near a pine forest in Dome Valley north of Auckland yesterday.

The Happy Valley scrub fire in the hills above Wellington’s south coast appears to have finally been subdued.Principal Rural Fire Officer Jack Darragh said Wellington’s south coast residents could now rest easy as his crews had subdued the fire, which flared up again on Friday and Saturday nights.

Drownings
Two men have drowned in the surf at Piha Beach and a third man rescued from the water is in a serious condition.

The three men went for a swim about 7pm yon Saturday night and an “intensive search” last night failed to find the two men who did not make it to shore

Big dry
Most of the country saw another dry weekend with coolish nights but often warm and sunny days.
The last weekend of summer is now behind us but much of this upcoming week will see sunshine remain.

Officials are not declaring a drought in the Waikato just yet however officials will meet again on Friday to reassess the situation.

Waikato Regional Council chairman Peter Buckley said while farmers were stressed, most were coping, and they were not as stressed as in the big drought of 2008.

Stock feed was still available, whereas in 2008 it had run out and had been impossible to get palm kernel or decent silage.

Frosts
Clear skies overnight saw light frosts form over inland, eastern and southern parts of the South Island over the weekend.

Temperatures were as much as eight degrees below average for the end of February. Even though daytime highs were near normal, if not a little above, the nights have been very cold.
This week overnight lows should be a little higher but generally under starry skies along with a few cloudy areas.

Homepage image of Piha Beach, where tragically two people drowned over the weekend.

WeatherWatch.co.nz