Short bursts of heavy showers splashed some parched farmland for the first time in months yesterday, but forecasters and frustrated farmers say they will do little to break droughts.

Auckland had a brief downpour overnight and Northland received isolated showers yesterday. In Kaitaia, where drought has been declared after a brutal summer, a weather station recorded 18mm of rainfall.

But a solid rain band that could have drenched Northland broke apart and no rain was recorded overnight.