Parts of Canterbury were at high risk of fire this summer, particularly Ashburton and inland South Canterbury. North Canterbury principal rural fire officer Bruce Janes said the fire season has not been as busy as last year. Niwa forecaster Nava Fedaeff​ said soil moisture was lower than normal for this time of year, particularly in Northland, Auckland, north Waikato and Coromandel. JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/STUFF A dry North Canterbury, looking from Mt Cass Rd towards Doctors Hills. Dryness in the South Island would continue until the end of March, whereas the North Island was likely to get more rainfall by February, he said.

Source: Stuff January 07, 2020 05:03 UTC