As we approach the end of January some parts of New Zealand have become very dry after a wet end to 2018 and no real rain is in sight for some regions according to WeatherWatch.co.nz.

Head forecaster Philip Duncan says the series of highs streaming in from Australia look likely to continue into February with no major rain makers for the nation on the horizon at this stage. “We see high after high drifting in from the Tasman Sea and covering New Zealand. We may see a few breaks in this, the odd cold front up the West Coast and some inland downpours in both islands, but overall a number of places look much drier than normal in the weeks ahead”.

Mr Duncan says some of the driest places may only have 1mm over the next half a month. 

Regions most exposed to the driest weather look to be: Auckland, some parts of Northland, parts of Waikato and Coromandel Peninsula, parts of Taranaki, Whanganui and Manawatu, Wellington, Nelson and some parts of Canterbury.  Due to some heavy downpours that might flare up some within those area may get an additional 30mm, but for those that miss out there doesn’t appear to be any offshore rainmakers coming in to help. Most rain looks focused on Fiordland and South Westland.

WeatherWatch.co.nz will continue to monitor the increasingly dry conditions as well as potential rainmakers in the tropics, sub-tropics and Tasman Sea areas. There are some signs in mid-February the tropics will be more active north of NZ too. At the same time the highs which are currently more North Island focused may become more South Island focused in February, calming things down there after a turbulent week this week and if this happens it will bring more easterlies to the top of the North Island.

One positive is that some rain is falling today in dry upper North Island regions, but the totals aren’t expected to be very high – but will be very welcome by many, especially gardeners and those with vegetable crops.

14 DAY RAIN ACCUMULATION MAP. Areas in pale to mid blue and green look to be the driest, with just 0.2 to 19mm forecast over the next two weeks (Data for New Zealand courtesy of the US Government)

Please note, the areas circled in red at the most likely to be dry:

– WeatherWatch.co.nz exclusive