In a nutshell this week we have a low deepening and remaining stuck east of Gisborne and a big high building over the South Island. The high will not only bring frosts back to the South Island but it will also encourage a strong squash zone of air pressure over the North Island and Cook Strait areas, making for windy sou’easters for the week ahead.

In fact this windy SE set up is not great news if you live in the eastern North Island, where it will feel like winter this week (Spring is all about winter fading away and hints of summer coming in). Yesterday (Sunday) daytime highs broke into the low 20s C in parts of Hawke’s Bay. From Tuesday to Friday most places will be between 10 and 13 degrees there.

This SE wind will kick in by the end of Tuesday and clear showers from northern and western parts of the North Island, bringing the sun back out and keeping conditions drier than average. In fact, with the exception of the eastern North Island most places are drier than normal for the next several days.

As high pressure grows over the South Island this week expect frosts to kick back in, stopping pasture growth and making for cold nights for new born stock. But animals may be more miserable in the eastern North Island where it will be wet, grey, cold and windy until this weekend.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz