After 10 days of glorious sunshine, the country's beach party is getting rained on.

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The stellar run, which has seen the mercury rise well in to the 30s in many places, has nudged records and raised concerns about drought.

But rain is forecast for most of both North and South islands today, with MetService warning of the possibility of severe thunderstorms and heavy downpours along the West Coast.

Heavy rain is also predicted for the ranges of northern Fiordland and Westland, Otago lakes, western Nelson and Mount Taranaki, with up to 80 millimetres expected.

Rain is already falling in Auckland and Wellington, with a strong, gusty northerly picked to develop in the capital.

Downpours began last night in Hamilton and Queenstown.

Wet weather in Christchurch and Napier will be accompanied by high temperatures, with 28 degrees Celsius picked for the Garden City and 31C for Hawke's Bay.

Those worried about the end of the golden weather needn't worry though, with forecasters picking a return to settled fine weather by Waitangi Day.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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