The rain Aucklanders have copped today is likely to ease for a relatively fine but cool weekend.

A prolonged heatwave across Russia combined with a prodigious consumption of vodka has led to dozens of drownings every day.

The rest of the school holidays could be chilly, with wind expected for the north, frosts predicted in the heartland, and heavy rain in the south.

Is this as cold as it will get this year? Quite likely, writes Philip Duncan

Three East Coast families will remain isolated for at least another day after their only road access was washed away by heavy rain yesterday.

Flooding on the East Coast has trapped several residents in their homes, with further heavy rain forecast for tonight putting local civil defence centres on alert.

Firefighters were called out to dozens of weather-related calls overnight and this morning, as heavy rain and gales lashed the top of the country.

Flooding is worsening on the Coromandel Peninsula, with rain warnings in place across much of the North Island.