Last weekend we had snow to near sea level in the forecast – this weekend we have warm air that will push temperatures well above average for mid-July.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the warm weather will push daytime highs into the mid to late teens for regions that a week ago had single digit highs.

“Our chaotic winter weather patterns continues. Last weekend we had polar air over the country, this weekend it’s coming from the sub-tropics and even Australia’s interior” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.

“Some eastern areas will get to between 17 and 20 degrees this weekend, not bad considering we are now in what is typically the coldest four weeks of the year, mid July to mid August”.

Weather analyst Aaron Wilkinson predicts temperatures in the main centres will be in the mild range this weekend.  “Christchurch has a high of 17 degrees both days and Dunedin should climb to 15 on Saturday”.

Mr Wikinson says Auckland and other northern centres will be in the mid teens while many eastern areas will could make it to the upper teens.

The warm weather doesn’t equal rain either.  Apart from the West Coast most regions should have a dry weekend, but rain is moving towards the South Island as the weeklend progresses, with the main rain band likely to cross the North Island on Tuesday, followed by westerlies on Wedneday then a cooler south west change for most of the country by next Thursday.

– Image / Looking west in New Plymouth, Greg Taylor

– WeatherWatch.co.nz