Despite a lot of high pressure coming into the NZ area for the next 10 days we still have two cold fronts on their way.

One is this Thursday for the South Island and the other goes more nationwide next Monday.

However many places will be settled, sunny and hot this week thanks to high pressure smothering the nation. Even next week after Monday’s next cold front there is another enormous block of high pressure, followed by hotter north to north west winds.

Southland and Otago will see the biggest temperature drop this week, with Thursday’s maximum temperature around 10 degrees cooler than Wednesday (mid to upper 20s on Wednesday, mid teens on Thursday).

The North Island looks set to be driest, whilst West Coast looks to be wettest.

We also take a look at the tropics where the next tropical cyclone is possible around the Cook Islands this weekend – but due to high pressure in the NZ area it is not locked in.