The rising sun on a misty Central Plateau morning thanks to an anticyclone.  Image by weather watcher David Hawke.

Blog by head weather analyst Philip Duncan

Was it just me or did Summer begin this week!? Unofficial reports from weather stations showed the the temperature hit a staggering 27 degrees in some parts of Christchurch with Dunedin officially reaching 25.

Otago and Canterbury regions enjoyed temps in the mid 20s thanks to a warm, dry, northerly moving across the area. Most North Island places made it into the late teens under relatively sunny skies and light winds.

And this really is the time of year for “summer like” temperatures as the nor’westers crank up and large highs move in. In fact, we’re now starting to see the “Spring Battleground” forming – deep lows are churning through the Southern Ocean, full of winter strength and fury, while high pressure systems are making a regular come back to the North Island bringing sunnier, drier, weather. The ‘squeeze zone’ in between these two main systems creates very warm northerlies or nor westers over most regions south of Manawatu as we saw on Tuesday.

Meanwhile the South Island’s hydro lakes should again see more rain Wednesday as a front moves in. It’s great news for our power woes and combined with snow melt the lakes should now, or soon, be returning to a very healthy state.

Across the coming weekend it appears as though the North Island/South island contrast will continue, with a high over the North and those strong or strengthening nor’westers in the South. It’s perfect weather for farmers, skiers, boaties in the north and for many kiwis nationwide it’ll spell more good news as we tackle our lawns, gardens and dust off our bbqs, t-shirts and sunglasses!

Of course it certainly isn’t Summer – and cold snaps bringing snow are possible as late as November even December.  This is Spring afterall!