Spring-like weather is continuing to affect New Zealand from Christchurch northwards as a humid, mild, northerly continues.

Temperatures have hovered in the mid to late teens for most North Island regions with 18 degrees in Napier and 17 in Whangarei and Kaikoura at 1pm.  Philip Duncan, head weather analyst at the Radio Network’s Weather Watch Centre, says the northerlies, pulling warmer air from north of the country, are the reason for the temperature jump.

“Winds will ease quite quickly this afternoon and evening with tomorrow a much more settled day.  A high pressure system is forming over the country and that means clearing skies for many and an easing of winds”.

Heavy rain, which has affected much of New Zealand’s west coast, is now easing and spreading east over the North Island.  “There’s still some rain or showers over the South Island and western areas of the North Island but most of the rain should move off into eastern areas during this afternoon and clear the country overnight”.

Mr Duncan says another band of rain is forming over Northland and should continue to feed patchy rain and showers in to Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula this afternoon.