Weather in the North Island is expected to remain clear and dry till the end of the month – but be prepared for a muggy summer.

Anticyclones stalling over the North Island are responsible for the early arrival of summer weather, says MetService ambassador Bob McDavitt.

But the anticyclones are about to move to the South Island, taking with them the clear skies and low rainfall the North Island has experienced over the last six weeks.

“They are going down to Otago; we won’t see them again till April,” said Mr McDavitt.

He predicts warm weather will continue, but Auckland and the upper North Island will get rain next month.

“By Christmas the weather will be great for the mosquitoes.”

Niwa climate scientist Georgina Griffiths said Auckland and the upper North Island had experienced a dry spell over the past six weeks.

Auckland had only had 16ml of rain in the first nine days of this month – one-fifth of the average rainfall for this time of year.

But a moderate to strong La Nina weather pattern was expected to bring normal or above normal rainfall during the summer months.

The La Nina pattern also increased the risk of tropical cyclones.

“We expect La Nina to wetten up the North Island,” said Ms Griffiths.

Auckland could expect fine weather with cloudy periods and isolated showers over the next week.
 

– NZHERALD.CO.NZ – By Katherine Irvine

Homepage image / Gloomy Auckland day with drizzle