Rain clouds ahead signal first real soaking in months

Clear out the gutters - rain clouds due to reach Auckland tomorrow signal the first chance of a drought-breaking downpour in months, says a weather forecaster.

MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt said a low-pressure weather system would move slowly over the country, bringing rain to Auckland before heading south.

The low has already brought clouds that drenched parts of Northland, where farmers have been hard-hit by drought, over the weekend.

Mr McDavitt said it was the "first time we have seen a low like this in the right place to deliver rain to New Zealand for a long time."

The main bands of rain would cross the country tomorrow and Thursday. "There might be another dose over the weekend as well."

The pattern of high pressure systems that kept rain from reaching Northland and Auckland for several months is breaking up, much to the relief of farmers and water-supply companies.

But the prolonged drought has left behind a shortfall in normal soil moisture that could remain into next summer, even if there is normal rainfall over winter.

Northland Regional Council said the weekend's rain was welcome but even the wettest areas would need the same amount again this week to make a lasting impression on the drought.

Dale Hansen, the council's water resources manager, said the main beneficiaries of the weekend's rain were eastern areas of Northland, from Coopers Beach in the Far North down to Puhipuhi north of Whangarei.

He said Northland was still lacking 400mm of rain that would normally have fallen over the past six months.

Mr McDavitt said Auckland had had 11mm of rain so far this month, compared with about 30mm normally.

The Numbers:

* Rainfall received by Auckland this month: 11mm

* Usual rainfall received by Auckland by now: 30mm

* Rainfall lacking from Northland over past six months: 400mm