New Zealanders have barely had time to appreciate that a high is rolling in for the rest of this week – let alone having to get their heads around another incoming low, but it is winter afterall.

A ridge of high pressure will push into many parts of the country over the coming days, especially the North Island. Westerlies are likely to form on the southern fringes of his high, which means eastern parts of the South Island should enjoy warmer and sunnier weather compared to the past 48 hours.

However a short, sharp, front over Tasmania later this week will likely help spawn a new low in the Tasman Sea this weekend. 

“This is what we mean when we say we have a ‘choatic’ weather pattern this winter – we can get the big southerlies but also big warm, wet, lows” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.  “

“This low will bring warmer – but strong – nor’west winds to some central and eastern parts of the country by Sunday. By early next week North Islanders especially will be asking ‘what cold snap?’ as the warmer north west flow sets in.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says that Hawkes Bay, which stuggled to reach double digits on Monday, could be back to the mid-teens as soon as this Thursday.

“In true chaotic fashion the wintry weather today will give way to warmer weather later this week and early next week, then again gives way to yet another cold south west change late next week.”.

Mr Duncan believes July’s mix of warm and cold weather events will continue into August.  “Some winters we have weeks of mainly one wind direction, but this winter has been very mixed up with warm northerly rain events and rough southerly blasts”.

– Image / This coming Sunday’s rain map shows a large low in the Tasman Sea / Weathermap

– WeatherWatch.co.nz