Sun lovers already on to a winner

Tauranga cousins Sophie Robinson, 6, Lucas Cousins, 12, and Patrick Edmonds, 8, had expected to spend their first day of 2015 inside watching DVDs while it poured down outside. Photo / Christine Cornege.

Year off to hot start with perfect conditions for the races - and there’s more to come.

With the New Year festivities out of the way Kiwis basked in sunshine on the first day of the year.

Aucklanders lapped up the glorious conditions at the New Zealand Herald New Year's Day races at Ellerslie where the feature race, the group one $200,000 Sistema Railway Stakes, was won by In Style.

Sunny skies greeted New Year's Day for most of the country and good weather is expected for many areas in the days ahead.

Most parts of the country would be sunny today, according to WeatherWatch forecasters.

Brief isolated showers were possible in the Waikato and perhaps central North Island this afternoon.

"About the lower North Island, west to northwest winds will prevail in the west, with a mixture of sunny areas and some cloud," weatherwatch.co.nz said.

The east coast of Northland and Bay of Plenty would probably experience sea breezes this afternoon.

Wellington would be mostly sunny today with northerly winds and a high of about 21C.

WeatherWatch said Nelson and the South Island east coast should be sunny but a few light showers were possible in Otago this evening.

MetService said a ridge of high pressure would cover the country tomorrow, but weaken over the South Island on Sunday ahead of an oncoming front. Patches of rain or showers were expected over the South Island as the front moved northward, MetService said. "There is a low risk of heavy rain about Fiordland on Monday, with a moderate risk of severe northwest gales about Southland and Clutha, including Foveaux Strait, during late Sunday and early Monday."

Northland had a sunny day yesterday but a few afternoon showers were possible there tomorrow. Auckland would be partly cloudy and mild for the next few days, with extended sunny spells.

Year off to hot start with perfect conditions for the races - and there's more to come

Summer snapshot

•

Hottest:

Wairoa, Waipara, Christchurch, Darfield 27C.

• Coldest: Gore, Balclutha, Invercargill 17C.

• Wettest: Between 40mm to 60mm of rain expected in Northern Fiordland and Southern Westland.

• Windiest: Fiordland, gusts up to 70km/h possible.

• Spotlight on: Great Barrier Island, Hauraki Gulf. Get back to nature by exploring the island's untouched native bush on one of the numerous walking tracks, before hitting the surf at Medlands Beach. Mostly fine, cloud, showers possible. 24C expected.

Both hottest and coldest areas are based on highs for the day
Source: MetService