KEY POINTS:
Rain clouds never looked so good.
After several days of oppressive heat, relief finally arrived in the South Island yesterday as a cool southerly change brought plunges in temperatures of about 20C, and welcome showers in Canterbury.
It is a welcome break for those forced inside to shelter from temperatures in the mid-30s, and struggling to sleep at night as even darkness brought little respite.
The North Island, meanwhile, seems to have found a happy medium, with comfortable temperatures around the mid-20s in many places yesterday, and little rain to speak of.
The temperature in Christchurch was just 12C at 11am yesterday, after temperatures soared into the mid-30s in Canterbury at the weekend.
A big high in the Tasman Sea meant there was little prospect of decent rainfall in the days to come, said Weather Watch analyst Philip Duncan.
"So conditions are looking set to stay dry and hot for most. In fact, if this high angles itself properly it may drive hot heat from the Australian desert across the South Island - bringing a return to temperatures in the mid to late 30s this weekend or next week."
The recent run of golden weather has had a downside in the escalating fire risk for many rural areas.
"Many areas around the country are starting to dry out, and rural fire authorities out there are starting to put restrictions on lighting fires in the open air, as well as declaring total fire bans," said national rural fire officer Murray Dudfield.
Areas such as Wairarapa, North Canterbury and Marlborough presented the greatest risk.
Mr Dudfield said people had to be aware that there was still a dry period ahead to get through.
Firefighters had managed to avoid many large-scale rural fires around the country so far with quick reactions.
The dry summer has also forced councils in some areas to introduce water restrictions, while drought is a big fear for farmers in the drier regions.
