Nelson's dry weather continues - important information for residents

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Gales that have buffeted the Nelson-Tasman region for several days have further dried out land already parched by a lack of rain, putting fire crews and forestry workers on high alert.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand principal rural fire officer Ian Reade said the weather in the region had delivered a trifecta of strong winds, high temperatures and low humidity.

- Reade urged anyone who had lit a fire in the past three months to check the ashes were cold, particularly if they had a fire pit. Warm ashes in the centre could be unearthed by the weather and ignite a fire. A blaze on Monday was started after warm ashes were exposed from a fire that had been lit in September-October.

- A total fire ban would be in place from next week for the Waimea Basin and Golden Bay.

- There was no sign of rain in the remainder of the 10-day forecast, MetService said. MetService data revealed just 6mm rain had fallen this year in Nelson city, compared with an average of 90.5mm for January. A total of 10.3mm had fallen in Takaka so far this month.