“So much for spring!” – we see that comment every spring whenever the weather turns wet or cold. When you think about it, the statement doesn’t really make a lot of sense.   Why?  Because Spring isn’t a settled season, in fact it’s turbulent, chaotic and changeable. 

WeatherWatch.co.nz defines spring basically as winter gradually fading and hints of summer slowly coming in.   

Once we get into November the warm days tend to outweigh the cold days overall – but cold southerlies with snow on the mountains and the odd frost in sheltered areas also occur.

If spring was suddenly warm and settled every day it would be summer!

“When will summer arrive?” is another question we’re asked every year.  Summer in New Zealand starts in December but true summer weather usually sets in across January, February and March. Some years the heat can set in as early as November, other years it takes into January to get going. Every year is different – due to the chaotic difference each year with the placement of highs and lows around New Zealand.

As for November…get used to more ups and downs with the temperatures, but trending upwards.

Christchurch daytime Highs next 6 days…
Fri: 14, Sat: 20, Sun: 13, Mon: 16, Tues: 22, Weds: 14 degrees

Dunedin daytime Highs next 6 days…
Fri: 14, Sat: 18, Sun: 9, Mon: 18, Tues: 19, Weds: 13

The North Island’s temperatures tend to be less changeable – but a degree or two shift in highs most days are common as winds swing from northerlies to southerlies etc.  Eastern areas, with big ranges to the west, tend to have bigger swings in daytime highs.  Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay, Gisborne can have very hot nor’westers in spring – but very cold southerlies too…in other words, a mix of winter and summer-like weather. 

– 1:05pm temperature map across Australia, NZ and South West Pacific / Wunderground

This news story was written on Friday afternoon, at 1:05pm

– WeatherWatch.co.nz