A week of warmer than normal weather for this time of year is spreading across New Zealand with WeatherWatch.co.nz saying highs in the low to mid 20s are possible in some locations.

Much of the country has warmer than average daytime temperatures with the South Island having warmer than average nights as well to begin with, eventually spreading in to the North Island. Until then the North Island still has some colder than average nights and that is due to lighter winds around the island, neared to the centre of the high.

The reason for the warmth is simply due to the placement of this large high just east of New Zealand. The anticyclonic air flow around this high is ‘reaching’ up into the sub-tropics and pulling this air down across the country, in particular the South Island at the moment, then more places as we head into the week ahead.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the warmer than average week ahead will continue through until next weekend when potentially a sub-tropical rainmaker comes through then a cooler southerly ahead of the next high pressure system.

The mild airflow, coupled with light winds thanks to high pressure and longer nights means more foggy areas are also expected through inland areas over the next several days, especially over the North Island. More flight delays are possible. Please check with airlines and airport websites the day of travel and our latest forecasts. Fog can sometimes be tricky to forecast so be prepared for possible “sudden fog” which can roll in or develop fairly quickly without warning and may impact travel conditions for motorists, ferries and flights. In these conditions, as we saw on Saturday in Waikato, fog and/or low cloud can linger as late as early afternoon. 

WeatherWatch.co.nz forecasters have also noted the sound of cicadas still chirping in Auckland and some other northern locations. The insect is typical in summer and usually can’t be heard in the later colder months of Autumn. Let us know if you’ve heard them too!

– WeatherWatch.co.nz