A short term cold change but windy westerlies (Spring + El Nino) are about to roar into New Zealand and southern Australia in the weeks ahead.

Spring and El Nino have a similar weather pattern – plenty of windy westerlies. The weeks ahead look windier than previous years with gales likely to make some eastern parts of both nations warmer and windier and drier.

Regions that were flooded badly by Cyclone Gabrielle are already noticing just how dry it’s becoming – and El Nino still isn’t officially even here (although an announcement is expected any day or week now).

Low pressure forms in the tropics this week around Vanuatu and New Caledonia – but it won’t spread much further afield.

Most of Australia is settled and dry this week – but Perth and southern WA is stormy thanks to a huge Southern Ocean low.