As WeatherWatch.co.nz first mentioned a couple of weeks ago the transition into summer was likely to be a windy and cool one for many areas – and that still looks to be the case, although the winds look set to peak on the last day of spring!

A last minute spring storm in the Southern Ocean is brushing up against a large high in the Tasman. For Friday and Saturday that will fuel a strengthening and warm nor’west wind which will see some central or eastern areas climb into the late 20s today and tomorrow.

However behind this front is a cool to cold south westerly wind flow pulling up air from mid-way over the Southern Ocean.

While this isn’t a cold blast, it will drop temperatures especially in western and southern areas.

In Christchuirch the high for Friday is 26 degrees, 21 Saturday and 18 on Sunday.

Dunedin goes from heading for 20 today to 14 Saturday and Sunday.

Parts of Southland may struggle to even reach the teens this weekend.

Gales are likely to blow through central New Zealand starting tonight and peaking Saturday morning to lunchtime around Wellington.  Winds may be strong enough to cause some regional flight delays so may pay to check with your airline.

As these winds move north it will affect cyclists around Lake Taupo for part of the Great Lake Cycle Challenge.  Clouds will increase and hopefully the patchy light rain or showers will hold off until very late in the day.

The gales will start tonight though, across inland parts of Canterbury.

By Sunday – the first day of summer officially in New Zealand and Australia – a generally cooler sou’west flow will cover the nation.  Some areas may feel several degrees cooler even in the north even if the air temperatures aren’t down that much – this is due to lower humidity levels in this cooler airflow.

Next week a high rolls in bringing warmer, calmer, weather to most places. However showers are still possible top and bottom of the nation.

Finally – fruit growers around the lower South Island and some eastern areas should be aware that hail may be in some of these showers on Saturday. We expect any possible isolated hail to be small for the most part but we advise growers to monitor rain radar and forecasts.

– Image / File, Tony Sharpe

– WeatherWatch.co.nz