There will be no immediate respite for drought-stricken North Otago despite rain and cooler temperatures for most places in Otago yesterday.
MetService meteorologist Karl Loots said the forecast for this week was for cooler temperatures but little rain.
‘‘This season is an El Nino season so we tend to have drier conditions,'' Mr Loots said.
The dramatic temperature drop in Otago's main centres yesterday came after about 6am when a cold southerly arrived.
Yesterday's highs would surprise most, but they were recorded early in the morning, Mr Loots said.
Dunedin and Oamaru reached 19degC about 5am, while Queenstown, Wanaka and Alexandra recorded 27degC about the same time.
The showers would pass this morning, making way for temperatures in the mid-to-low teens.
''It does start to warm up gradually ... by Wednesday.''
MetService meteorologist Emma Blades said the sunshine would not last long as an area of low pressure was forecast to approach the South Island on Thursday.
Drought conditions in Marlborough eased slightly yesterday with some places exceeding 10mm of rain but there was no other significant rainfall in the immediate forecast.
