If you think July has been much colder than June – you’d be right.  Temperatures in July have mostly reset to normal after a record breaking warm June.  Last month’s warmth was due to frequent northerlies, pulling down mild, humid, air over New Zealand.

This month, however, we’ve seen a change to more southerlies – coupled with the coldest time of the year it’s meant more frosts and colder days lately.

The shortest day of the year was now over a month ago – many people are already noticing the extra minutes of daylight – but it takes until later in August and early September before we usually see a decent uptick in temperatures. “It’s a a bit like throwing another piece of wood on the fire – you can clearly see it, but it takes a bit longer before you feel the extra warmth” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.

South to south west winds continue until the weekend, when a high rolls in for a day or two.  Behind that high winds turn more northerly for a time says Mr Duncan.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the next two weeks sees more of a mixture of northerlies and southerlies.

As for August?  Well no locked in forecast just yet, however WeatherWatch.co.nz is hinting at the likelihood of perhaps more high pressure systems moving in.

– Image / Lake Pearson, South Island / File, Francis Vallance

– WeatherWatch.co.nz