Despite recent rainfall providing much-needed drought relief for farmers in many parts of the country, WeatherWatch says another type of drought still remains.
"New Zealand has two types of drought right now," says WeatherWatch.
The first drought concerns the soil moisture levels on the top of the ground that help spike grass and plant growth, while the second relates to the underground aquifers that hold water.
A prolonged dry period in Hawke's Bay was finally broken over the weekend after the region received sustained rainfall. That came after the farmers in the area faced crippling conditions in the worst drought in living memory.
Although the recent rain was described as "marvellous", it was far from a miracle cure.
"For many it has come too late in the season and the impacts of the drought will remain for some time," Lochie MacGillivray, co-chair of the Rural Advisory Group, said on Monday.
"Many farms will be still facing a significant feed deficit even with this higher than normal pasture growth."
The area is now on track to receive above-normal rainfall for June, though according to
WeatherWatch farmers will continue to battle the second kind of drought.
"The first option, soil moisture, is being fixed in most (not all) places and with more rain with sub-tropical connections coming this week it makes it hard to find locations that don't have a wet ground," WeatherWatch said on Tuesday.
"But the second option - wow, that has a long way to go before being fixed. Many, many, farmers have contacted us over the past few months to let us know how much of a rainfall deficit they are in."
Some farmers around the country were over half a metre of rain below where they need to be, WeatherWatch said.
Although rainfall for the next week will be below normal for much of the South Island, parts of the North Island - including on the East Coast - will be wetter than usual.
"The forecast this week has been a very positive one for northern farmers and growers - with the added warmth in the north giving some additional winter pasture growth," said WeatherWatch.
"Heavy frosts in the South Island are stopping this - but the good news for the eastern South Island is wet weather may be coming your way too with a southerly flow kicking in from this
weekend bringing days of showers."
A colder southerly front is forecast to arrive at the start of next week, driving wet weather into eastern areas of both islands.
