For almost three weeks now New Zealand has been under a dominant northerly flow which has caused record breaking heat on the West Coast and seen many temperatures above their usual May level – but that’s about to change.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the northerly flow will continue for this week – enhanced by a new low which will peak on Wednesday bringing heavy rain again to parts of the country (northern, central and western regions) – but the northerlies will come to an end on Friday and Saturday as a high pushes in over the Tasman Sea from Australia.

However the new high looks unlikely to bring very settled weather to New Zealand with the squash zone between the incoming high and lows in the Southern Ocean.

The high isn’t predicted to cross New Zealand, simply push out into the Tasman Sea and may spread over some parts of the upper North Island.

The winds will be strong westerlies – a change from the strong nor’easters of late – and will see drier, warmer, and windier weather in the east and cloudier, slightly cooler weather in the west.

On Sunday winds may turn more southerly dropping temperatures further.

But long range models are failing to pick any significant cold snaps at this stage – meaning although some of the warmth and humidity will ease this Friday, the true wintry weather is still a little way off yet.

– Image / ECMWF wind map showing strong west to south west winds this Sunday over New Zealand.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz