Aucklander Josh Plummer cools off on his boogie board at Mt Maunganui. Picture / Alan Gibson
Summer is hitting full force, with temperatures rising above 27C north of Auckland and farmers bracing for drought.
MetService duty forecaster Philippa Murdoch said thermometers at Ardmore yesterday hit 26C and Whangaparaoa was a searing 27.5C.
The hottest temperature was recorded in Taupo, at 29C.
Those further north also felt the heat, with a high of 26C in Whitianga and 27C in Northland.
Auckland's high hit 24C at the airport, slightly above the average historical high for January of 23.3C. The average for the month to-date was sitting at 24.4C.
This year's hottest temperature in Auckland was recorded on January 4, at 26C, Ms Murdoch said.
The good news is the hot weather looks set to stay. MetService forecaster Nicole Ranger said highs in Auckland for the rest of the week could be expected to reach between 25C and 27C.
The sunny weather should also remain with a lingering high-pressure system resulting in more sunshine for those in the north of the country this week, MetService meteorologist John Law said.
"As we head in towards Friday and Saturday we will start to see perhaps a touch more cloud and in parts we might find a few afternoon showers especially where we see the sea breezes come together." However, temperatures would remain "static" for the next few days, he said.
The hot weather has been causing issues around the country, in Wairarapa residents were asked to conserve water after taps ran dry last Friday. A computer system controlling water levels in storage reservoirs failed last Wednesday and by Friday morning most of Martinborough had either lost supply or pressure was down to a trickle.
Water restrictions are in place because of extreme dry conditions causing low water flows in the Ruamahanga and Waiohine rivers.
Federated Farmers president Bruce Wills said farmers were bracing for a dry spell and many were de-stocking.
"This weather pattern was forecast, we're pretty practiced at droughts - there's good numbers of stock being killed, for farmers it's simply a matter of making certain that you're matching the feed grown with demand from the stock," he said.
"[There's] no question it's concerning, but hey that's farming - we farm with the weather patterns."
DairyNZ spokesman Craig McBeth said Canterbury, North Otago and south Wairarapa were facing extremely dry conditions and the rest of the country was facing dryer than average soil moisture levels.
Rainfall was needed soon to reduce the risk of a normal dry summer turning into something more serious, he said.
"The good news is there will be plenty of feed to get farmers through dry conditions if we don't get rain. However, the issue may be a lack of cash around to pay for it."
"The low forecast milk price is already putting pressure on farmers' budgets for this season."
Today's outlook
• Whangarei Fine spells. Light winds, afternoon sea breezes. High 26C Low 16C
• Auckland Morning cloud, then fine. Light winds, sea breezes. High 25C Low 16C
• Tauranga Morning cloud, then fine. Light winds, sea breeze. High 25C Low 17C
• Coromandel Fine, aside from areas of morning cloud. Afternoon sea breezes. High 26C Low 15C
It's understood a NZDF aircraft and multiple helicopters are involved.