North Island basks in a fine run, storms for South

The sunny weather is set to continue well into the weekend for most of the North Island. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The sunny weather is set to continue well into the weekend for most of the North Island while severe thunderstorms are set to lash the bottom of the South Island today.

MetService forecaster Ramon Oosterkamp said the weather around the North Island yesterday was "wonderful" with all areas making it into the 20s, apart from Levin and Kapiti.

Mr Oosterkamp said places that have been dry should stay that way for the week with only light clouds and showers interrupting the sunshine.

But by late Sunday much of the North Island can except increasing periods of rain continuing into Monday.

"We don't hobble into summer until after Christmas when things settle down," said Mr Oosterkamp.

Meanwhile, MetService has issued a "severe weather warning" for Westland, inland Canterbury, Central Otago, the Southern lakes and Fiordland.

MetService forecaster Allister Gorman said the thunderstorms are likely to strike before 3pm.

He said rainfall rates could reach up to 35mm in one hour.

"Rainfall of this intensity can cause flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips.

"Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain," Mr Gorman said.

Niwa's climate summary of the past three months shows spring has been dry for much of the South Island, Auckland, Coromandel, and eastern parts of Northland with record lows or near-record lows in these parts.

Conditions were wet in southern Hawkes Bay, the Tararua district, and Wanganui which had 120 per cent of its normal rainfall. Elsewhere, rainfall was near normal.

Temperatures were near average in Northland, Coromandel, the Bay of Plenty and the southern lakes but cooler than usual in most other regions.

The South Island came out on top again with sunshine. Waikato, Taupo, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay were also sunny.

Niwa said spring was characterised by stronger than normal southwest winds. Of the main centres, Tauranga was warmest, Wellington wettest, Dunedin driest and Christchurch the sunniest and coolest.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA