Many commented on the winter chills yesterday as a polar blast moved up the country bringing snow to Stewart Island and relatively low levels of Southland and northern Otago.  Gales affected Auckland with gusts up to 90km/h.

Regions in the South Island struggled to get above double digits with Culverden’s high just 6 degrees yesterday. 

Today that cold south or south-west flow will continue to spread across the country but winds will start to ease.  Southland is most likely to field the coldest weather today as raw southerlies continue to blow straight in.

A large high, or anticyclone, in the Tasman Sea is rolling in (the same one that blocked Cyclone Hamish from coming our way).  This high should bring dry and sunnier weather to many parts of the country starting Friday and lasting until about Sunday or Monday.

Friday should see temperatures lifting back up to the late teens to early 20s for most places.

But there is a blemish in the weekend forecast for northern New Zealand.  The easterly flow moving around the top of the high (with the high centred over the South Island) may see some showers or even light rain drifting in.  For those in Auckland on Valentines Day last month, it may be a similar set up – with a small area of light showers persisting over the city.

It’s too early to be sure if this will happen again but there’s certainly an increased risk of showers in Auckland and Northland, especially eastern areas, on Saturday or Saturday night.  We’ll have a much clearer idea tomorrow.

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