The MetService outlook for November is indicating cooler than average temperatures are likely to dominate across the country, notably so in the first half of the month.

There is also a risk of further late-season fronts, or at least unusually cold morning for inland areas of both islands next week, says meteorologist Georgina Griffiths.

Cooler temperatures are set to prevail in the first half of November.

'Growers will certainly need to keep up-to-date with the temperature forecasts,” she says.

'The good news is that temperatures are likely to trend towards more typical November levels by the end of the month.” Typically, November is a month in which afternoon temperatures increase nicely and the weather settles.

Georgina adds: 'We can't rule out some warmer evenings in November – but don't expect the warmth and barbecue weather as seen last year.”

Relatively dry soils are currently being observed in the north and east of the South Island.

'The rainfall totals seen in Nelson, Blenheim, Marlborough and Canterbury since July have been very low – sitting between 40 per cent and 50 per cent of what is typically seen over a normal July-October period,” she says.

'There is a chance of some helpful rainfall next week into the east of both islands. Both the overall expectation for the north and east of the South Island is for below-normal November rainfall.”

Georgina says western parts of both islands look to end up near average, after swinging between very wet and fairly dry from week to week.

She adds: 'For Taupo northwards and for the east of the North Island, a slightly drier than usual November is also the most likely outcome.”