Cool temperatures slid up eastern areas overnight bringing cloud with a few drizzly showers affecting some areas such as Christchurch this morning.

This is the second of three fronts and the one that affected Dunedin yesterday stopped any cricket being played between New Zealand and England with bad light and drizzly showers interrupting any play.

Today the south should see sunnier conditions for the most part and western and northern areas of the North Island should be mostly dry with many sunny areas as well.A risk of a light shower over Whangarei, Kaitaia , Dargaville and Kerikeri is there this morning. 
Eastern parts of the North Island, including drought zone Hawkes Bay, might see more cloud than moisture but some light showers can’t be ruled out.

Yesterday we asked Facebook readers about where the next drought areas should be declared.

Allanah said “Whole Canterbury region. Its pretty dry everywhere here. Would LOVE some rain…”.

Blair had plenty to say on the matter…”Lower Hutt is about to declare a total fire ban, commencing Friday, and Wgtn Regional Council will most likely put a ban on garden sprinklers and other irrigation systems this Friday also, if no substantial rain falls between now and then. But is it a drought zone…no, not yet.”

Lauren was succinct “Stratford and the entire taranaki region”.

Kay said last night…”Waiheke Island, we are desperate and I hear people are stealing water from others tanks, not a good way to be but we all need water and lots on the island have helped but there are always meanies.”

Helen had a bit to say on the topic…”Wairarapa. We are one of the few green paddocks with no irrigation. But another few weeks and we could be as brown as the eastern and northern areas. A total rural fire ban came in last week.”

Manawatu, Wanganui, North Canterbury and Nelson also got mentions that action should be taken very soon.

Homepage image of Dunedin, where play should get underway at University Oval.

WeatherWatch.co.nz