For two days in succession, temperatures were a little above average and the sun shone in many places too!

Russell, Paihia and Kawerau were top of the list with 19, 18s for Whangarei, Tauranga and Hamilton and the coolest North Island centre was Wellington on 13.

Over the mainland and Hanmer Springs took the South Island top temperature title with 17 degrees with Ashburton and Darfield not too far behind with 16. Another Canterbury town took the coolest maximum nationally, which was Culverden, with just 8 degrees.

Auckland recorded 17 today, Hamilton was the warmest of the main centres with 18, Wellington felt a cool breeze with 13, Christchurch had plenty of sunshine and 15 degrees and Dunedin was on 14.

Tonight, a weak southerly makes its way slowly north over the South Island, so conditions shouldn’t be too frosty in inland areas. Tomorrow though, that brisk breeze will bring a few showers in the east and temperatures below par for late August. Further north, conditions should be a little more pleasant overall, with just one or two cloudy spells with a shower popping up here and there. For those sheltered from the southerly, sunny skies should prevail yet again.

WEATHER ANALYST RICHARD GREEN

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