KEY POINTS:
Waikato fields are finally turning green again, after suffering the driest conditions in more than 100 years.
But despite predictions of more rain this week, the region is still officially a drought zone and some farmers are bracing themselves for a tough winter.
MetService severe weather forecaster, Oliver Druce, said heavy rain and thunderstorms were possible tomorrow in both Auckland and the Waikato.
"It's likely to be similar to the rain bomb we had a couple of weeks ago ... the whole top half of the North Island is in the firing line," he said.
Further unsettled weather is predicted later in the week for both regions, with temperatures in the Waikato region expected to be in the late teens to early twenties - almost ideal conditions for suffering pastures to regenerate.
But Waikato Federated Farmers president Stew Wadey, said the green facade was "cosmetic" and the conditions had probably come too late for some.
"The indications are clear that the drought is still here and it's pretty serious," he said.
Substantial grass growth was unlikely over the next month and farmers would be "heavily reliant" on supplementary feed, which in some instances had more than tripled in price since last year.
Despite Hamilton City Council announcing a lifting of its sprinkler ban at the end of the month, Environment Waikato chairman Peter Buckley confirmed the region was still officially a drought zone.
He said areas from Morrinsville across to the Hauraki Plains and the Bombay Hills needed at least 50mm of rain to bring soil deficit levels back to normal.
