It was warmer, drier and sunnier.

That pretty well summarises much of the nation's weather for the month of July.

July was warm and dry this year. File photo.

Air temperatures were well above average (+0.51°C to +1.20°C) in many parts of the country. It was especially warm in inland South Island, kaikoura and Auckland where mean temperatures were well above mean average (+1.20°C).

It was very dry in the east of the country, particularly in Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, coastal Wairarapa and eastern Canterbury where rainfall was 50 per cent of normal, according to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

On the other hand, rainfall was well above normal for most remaining parts of the South Island, Whanganui and the Central Plateau.

July was very sunny in many parts of the country, well above normal. And it was especially sunny for this time of year in South Otago, Central Otago, eastern Canterbury and the southern North Island.

Looking ahead for August through October, high ocean temperatures will mean warmer and more humid air masses and should impact the North Island in particular. That means an increased likelihood of significant rain and severe storms.

The temperature gauge will be above average over much of the country. However there will be frosts and cold snaps from time to time in cooler areas.

NIWA is predicting normal or above normal rainfall in the north and west of the North Island.

Seasonal rainfall is most likely to be in the near normal range in the north and west of the North Island and the west of the South Island. Seasonal rain is most likely to be in the near normal range in the east of the North Island and north of the South Island.

Soil moisture and river flows are most likely to be below normal in the east of the South Island. In the north of the North Island, soil moisture levels and river flows are about equally likely to be in the near normal range or above normal range.

In the west of the North Island, soil moisture levels are about equally likely to be near normal or above normal, and river flows are most likely to be in the near normal range.

Seasonal soil moisture levels and river flows are about equally likely to be near normal or below normal in the east of the North Island and the north of the South Island.

In the west of the South Island, soil moisture levels are most likely to be near normal while river flows are about equally likely to be near normal or above normal.

- Information from NIWA.