This time a week ago we had snow to low levels and overnight temperatures dropping below -20.  This week those same places will be much warmer, with overnight lows for some inland areas of the South Island over 20 degrees warmer thanks to the windy airflow.

Due to high pressure over Australia and north of New Zealand – coupled with lows in the Southern Ocean – New Zealand is back into the windy westerly flow.

This air flow is partially coming out of Australia’s interior – as opposed to near Antarctica like New Zealand had a week ago.

Temperatures this week will be several degrees higher with frosts far less likely thanks to the winds, warmer air and late rain or cloud.

Strong winds are around all this week with gales at times – more like spring than winter says WeatherWatch.co.nz.

Also – heavy rain is again in the picture from Thursday to Saturday and could affect the Whanganui River catchment.  “We aren’t expecting a repeat of the big flood in Wanganui itself, but of course following that event everyone is focusing very closely on any further heavy rain.  This isn’t a carbon copy of the last front, but it is slow moving and does have the potential to dump high amounts of rain in some areas of the western North Island – so it’s one to monitor later this week” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says nationally July will kick off fairly mild to begin with which many farmers will be happy about – with many still reporting positive grass growth.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz