It’s been a cold September so far across most of New Zealand – but the next few days are a strong reminder we are in spring, with temperatures climbing into the low 20s as warmer winds move in.

The week ahead will be a positive one for most farmers.

Most New Zealanders will also likely enjoy the warmer weather – although talk of more rain for northern and western areas may not be so popular after a wetter than average past several weeks for a number of regions in the west.

Warmer than average temperatures this week will be welcome news to areas with current below average soil temperatures.  

Winds:
The west to north west wind flow will build across the country on Tuesday and Wednesday.  By Thursday the nor’west flow over the North Island is somewhat sub-tropical while a colder south to south west flow moves up the South Island over Friday and Saturday.

Temps:
Eastern areas of both islands will be warmest, starting in the South Island on Tuesday and moving into the North Island from Tuesday to Thursday.

On Tuesday WeatherWatch.co.nz says Dunedin’s high is 19 degrees…and takes the rest of the week to tumble to a high of 11 degrees this coming Saturday.

Parts of Canterbury will be around 20 degrees on Tuesday and late teens Wednesday and Thursday before a cold south west change drops the high to 13 on Friday and just 12 on Saturday. 

Hawkes Bay has a cold night tonight with lows getting down to nearer to zero but a mild Tuesday sees highs in the late teens, then highs in the low 20s on Wednesday and Thursday.

Rain:
Rain or showers will affect the South Island’s West Coast for most of the week, clearing on Friday.  

The North Island has patchy rain moving in on Friday while a small cold front will bring a southerly change and a few wintry showers to the deep south on Friday.  Otherwise this week is dry week for most of nation.

This Weekend
The incoming weekend looks dry under high pressure for the South Island, but showers on Saturday may even turn to rain for northern parts of the North Island by Sunday due to a small potential sub-tropical low near Northland and Auckland out in the north Tasman Sea.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz