The extended summer weather has been welcome by many but as we head into next week there is definitely a change coming.

 

Today, Thursday March 21st, is the Equinox which means it’s the start of Autumn on the astronomical calendar in the Southern Hemisphere and the start of spring in the north.

 

While NZ’s weather looks settled for the next few days with just a few drizzle patches and afternoon isolated showers it’s the forecast next Tuesday and Wednesday which sees a big storm in the Southern Ocean slide past NZ pushing up a cold front, heavy rain on the West Coast, strong nor’westers in the east and central areas and a mid-week cool down in the south, with daytime highs potentially dropping by 10 degrees.

 

Some rain may also make it into some of the North Island drought areas by Thursday.