The Summer has been ordinary and the beginning of Autumn hasn’t been all that flash and there’s been a bit of talk amongst a few experts that winter won’t necessarily be the warmest on record.

Once again we had a La Nina summer although not as strong as the previous year and there are indicators that the La Nina pattern is contuining to weaken and as winter approaches neutral conditions are a distinct possibility.

What that means is that we can expect an average winter however extreme conditions are not out of the picture either as cold fronts and depressions deliver the usual spate of rain, strong winds and snow to low levels in the south but also anticyclones bring sunny and cool days but crisp nights with frosty conditions.

There is some talk amongst scientists that we may then move into a El Nino pattern which tends to deliver drier and warmer temperatures to eastern parts of the country but cooler and moisture laden skies to western and southern districts.

There is never an exact blueprint when it comes to either El Nino or La Nina patterns as has been proven by the last 2 summers in La Nina phases which have delivered varying conditions from one year to the next.

The cycles of weather ebb and flow from one season to another and skiers this winter will be hoping for decent snowfalls whereas a few of us wouldn’t mind a winter that isn’t too harsh.

Story by WeatherWatch.co.nz weather analyst Richard Green

Image courtesy of NIWA of a snow covered South Island in 2006