Enjoy the sun before La Nina returns with rain

Holidaymakers cool off from the new year's sunshine at Mt Maunganui. Photo / Christine Cornege

The sunshine is expected to last a few more days as a northwestern front brings subtropical weather that has caused major flooding in Queensland.

Most parts of the country have seen sunny, hot and calm weather in the past week, with many people making the most of it at the beach.

However, this is expected to last only until Wednesday, when La Nina weather conditions arrive, bringing humidity, clouds and possibly heavy rain in northwestern parts of both islands.

WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said the unsettled weather is part of a tropical pattern which has caused major flooding in Queensland.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from at least 20 towns because of the widespread flooding, described as being of "biblical" proportions. Yesterday the body of a woman was found after her car was swept away.

Although New Zealand is soon to get some of that tropical weather, it is not thought that it will bring major flooding, Mr Duncan said.

"We don't think we'll be getting extreme stuff, like what's happened in Queensland. But there is the potential that we might get flooding rains eventually," he said.

"In the meantime, make the most of the sunny, hot, calm weather which is forecast to stick around until at least Wednesday."

Areas expected to be affected will include both the northern and western parts of the North and South Island including Nelson, which has already experienced flooding and strong winds in the past week.

Mr Duncan said although no heavy rains were expected at least in the next few days, the La Nina weather conditions could mean unexpected downpours next week.

People needed to be prepared for those unexpected changes to the weather.

"That's the problem with La Nina weather patterns.

"It could be sunny and hot for a whole week and then torrential rain for a day. We just have to be aware of it."