Soils in a number of areas across the country are drying out - particularly in the South Island

NIWA's latest Hotspot Watch shows one located in the Marlborough Sounds, while new, small hotspots are emerging in Nelson and Banks Peninsula.

There aren't any in the North Island, but a new hotspot is close to emerging along the Kapiti Coast.

Niwa Meteorologist Seth Carrier says we'll see more as we go through the summer - especially in December.

He says they're expecting dryer conditions to emerge, especially across the North Island.