The last weekend of Autumn on the meteorological calendar is upon us and the forecast looks, well, typical for this time of year! Unsettled and that will make some regions colder than average.

A powerful high pressure zone remains south of Australia and between that high and this week’s low pressure zone (now departing from New Zealand) it places a south to south-west flow across our country. This means colder or cooler nights and morning mornings for many regions.

Most affected by the cold – surprise surprise – is Southland, Fiordland and coastal Otago. Single digit maximum temperatures are on the way for a number of southern centres with Gore likely to only reach a high of +6C or 7C on Sunday. The top of NZ is different story, however, with highs 10 to 12 degrees milder.

Many regions have airflows coming off the Southern Ocean, but a small portion of southern NZ may get airflows more directly from Antarctica, which is why it’s so much colder in that very lower portion of the South Island.

But if you’re sheltered from a southerly or south-westerly then look forward to some sunshine.

💧Expected weekend rainfall (mostly from showers) pic.twitter.com/Oyi6nRZn5S

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) May 24, 2024

Hey, New Zealand… does it feel like winter starts in a week?

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) May 23, 2024

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• WeatherWatch.co.nz