Focus: Kaikohe dairy farmer Terence Brocx battles the worst drought in years. Video / Chris Tarpey
It's good news for the garden but not for the farmers, rain is on the way this weekend but it will only be a brief respite and isn't enough to break the drought in the North Island.
A front is expected to move over the West Coast of the South Island tomorrow and make its way up the country over the weekend.
MetService forecaster Stephen Glassey said there'll be "brief periods of rain" for a lot of the country tomorrow and Saturday.
Two deep low pressure systems lie either side of New Zealand today. Fronts associated with the low in the Tasman Sea should bring a period of rain to the west of the South Island tomorrow and most other parts of the country on Saturday. Details at https://t.co/hnwmGxU1gR ^SG pic.twitter.com/uCITfPFOCN
The rain is thanks to two "deep low pressure systems" that MetService said were "brewing" in the Tasman Sea.
"However, another dry spell is likely next week."
An impressive looking front is brewing in the Tasman Sea (as shown in this morning's satellite loop). It should move over the country on Friday and Saturday, bringing a period of rain or showers. However, another dry spell is likely next week. Detailshttps://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^SG pic.twitter.com/Ajce4z7jih
Temperatures are expected to be just be above average - Christchurch is likely to peak at 29C on Friday and 25C on Saturday, Wellington could reach 22C on both days while Auckland's highs are expected to get to 28C and 26C.
MetService's forecast for this weekend
Friday North Island: Mainly fine, isolated showers about Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and the Kāpiti Coast. South Island: Rain in the west with some heavy falls, spreading into Nelson later, then easing evening. Elsewhere, scattered light rain spreading north, turning to showers in the south later.
Saturday North Island: A period of rain spreading northeast with a southwest change, then easing to isolated showers. South Island: Showers in the west and south, possibly heavy, easing from the south later. Elsewhere, showers spreading northwards with a southerly change, easing at night.
Sunday North Island: Showers in the south and east gradually clearing, but lingering about Hawke's Bay and Gisborne. Mainly fine elsewhere. South Island: Morning cloud and patchy drizzle in the east, gradually clearing, and a few showers about Fiordland. Fine elsewhere.
