It's looking to be a hotter than usual summer, with above average temperatures very likely across the motu
Ice cream is a must during the hot weather. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Niwa says the nights will be warm and there's likely to be extended periods of high humidity.
In Tāmaki Makaurau, Central North Island, Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatū and Wellington NIWA says there's a 70 percent chance temperatures will be above average.
Hot, sticky nights are on the cards because there will be warmer than average coastal sea temperatures.
For Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa the likelihood is 65 percent. There's a chance Gisborne and northern Hawke's Bay will see periodic heavy rainfall too.
Soil moisture levels in the three regions are most likely to be below normal while river flows are about equally likely to be near normal or below normal.
Wairarapa was experiencing unusually dry conditions at the end of November, NIWA said, as was mid-Canterbury and Banks Peninsula.
Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, Buller, Coastal Canterbury and east Otago also have a 70 percent chance of seeing higher summer temperatures. For West Coast, Alps and foothills, inland Otago and Southland the likelihood increases to 75 percent.
Temperatures recorded at airports in Whangārei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Taupō broke average monthly temperatures for November.