NZ has at least 5 or 6 more days to go with temperatures above normal and sub-tropical airflows, but a cold change next week may finally be that reminder that we’re now in May – with snow possible in the South Island ranges and a nationwide temperature drop.

Until then, however, many places will be 4 to 8 degrees above normal with overnight lows in the upper North Island around the late teens this week.

Australia has a more normal set-up with temperatures closer to normal and airflows from the Southern Ocean at times.

We have special maps for rainfall and temperatures across New Zealand and Australia for the days ahead, plus the usual forecast maps out to Sunday/. We also take an extended look 8 days from now, with a potential wintry southerly coming in.

It’s not yet locked in, but it’s certainly showing up in the long range charts.