Weather for the middle of January sees high pressure dominating – but rain makers surrounding NZ, with a large low east of the country to start the week and another low deepening and developing over the Tasman Sea by Friday.

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TEMPERATURES
Airflows vary and not everyone has hot weather this week. Once again eastern coastal areas have the coolest airflows from Gisborne to Dunedin and around into coastal Southland. Easterly quarter winds off the sea are the main reason why. Daytime highs in some places may still fail to get over 20 degrees.

Hottest places by day will be inland areas of both main islands, in particular Central Otago, King Country, Waikato and inland areas of Auckland and Northland. Maximum temperaures will be in the mid to upper 20s and possibly breaking 30 degrees for some.

Ovenight lows this week will be low to start with, with single digit temperatures (or low double digits) in a number of areas. As the east to north-east airflow kicks in late week, overnight temperatures in northern NZ will shift upwards into the late teens.

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WINDS:
Despite a large high pressure zone affecting the country this week, the centre of the high (where winds are lightest) will be south of NZ and over the Tasman Sea, while a large and quite strong low pressure zone spins out to the east over the Pacific Ocean. This placement keeps a southerly quarter wind kicking in to many places and Monday may be quite windy around parts of the North Island and the north-eastern corner of the South Island with gales possible. Those winds ease further on Tuesday but remain around parts of the North Island – campers and those with awnings and sun umbrellas/gazebos will notice it the most.

Winds ease further on Wednesday and Thursday – but don’t ease entirely with coastal winds here and there still a little annoying for some. (Check your hourly forecasts in our App under “Trends” to see when the gustiest weather is, or our hourly forecasts here).

By Friday east to north-east winds pick up as low pressure deepens over the Tasman Sea and to the north of the country. Gales are possible in Northland and approaching Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula.

That northern low leads on to the rain chances this week…

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RAIN:
Most of NZ is dry or fairly dry this week with all regions leaning drier than average for mid January. But we will see a few heavy showers forming inland during the day in both main islands – and a few other showers in the mix too. Track those daily on the MetService rain radar.

As for that developing low to the north and north-west of NZ later this week, it does appear an easterly flow will increasing bringing some northern showers and possible weekend rain/showers.

The modelling is still unclear if a large low will then move into NZ from the Tasman Sea – or if another high pressure zone will return. We’ll have more details on this in our next weather video.

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VIDEOS:
Our weather videos return for 2025 this week (on a limited schedule for January – ie, not daily) and our first video for the year is this Tuesday, January 14th – we’ll take a closer look at where the rainmakers are (and are not) and how the rest of the middle of January is shaping up.

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• WeatherWatch.co.nz / Mobile App