After a deep low that brought gales from Southland to Auckland, snow to Northern Otago and hail showers across more than half of the country along with winter temperatures – we’re in for a period of settled, warmer, weather.  But it’ll be a brief period.

An anticyclone in the Tasman (it really earned it’s name this week after blocking a cyclone from coming our way) will finally spread a ridge over the country.  The centre of the high should cross the South Island on Saturday bringing dry, sunnier and warmer days to almost all of New Zealand.

The clearer skies following the injection of polar air this week means some regions, especially in the South Island, will be in for some cold nights.   Overnight lows will be well down in the single figures, especially inland.  Light frosts are also possible through the interior.

In the North Island temperatures will also be well down for March especially in inland places like Waikato, King Country and Central Plateau. 

But from about Auckland northwards the skies may not be completely sunny.  The easterly flow wrapped around the top of the anticyclone may well bring in some showers, especially on Saturday.

Of course you can track the latest weather predictions with our new Auckland weather forecasts (independent of MetService) which you’ll find here.

The high (anticyclone) will move through fast with our next low moving in on Monday in the far south.

Check back with WeatherWatch.co.nz all weekend as we track the rain showers in the north and the changing conditions right across the country as these fast moving Autumn weather systems roll through.