In late August WeatherWatch.co.nz predicted a change to windy weather around the second week of spring – this arrived with a roar as hurricane force winds ripped through Canterbury.  This windy event then kicked off the next few weeks of windy weather, which stepped up further after the equinox in late September.

But WeatherWatch.co.nz head weather analyst Philip Duncan says there are now some signs that the windiest weather is moving back to where it shoukld be – the Southern Ocean.  “My feeling is that we’re probably past half way with the windiest weather this spring”.

Mr Duncan says while gales are “certainly expected” at times in the coming weeks he says the this weekend’s big high is a sign of change. “For weeks the highs have been north of New Zealand and the Roaring Forties have been right over us – this high will track south and push the bulf of the wind south of the country”.

“The weather maps show a lot of wind still affecting parts of New Zealand, especially the South Island and central New Zealand, over the coming weeks but we’re going to start having more and more calm spells”.

November normally sees windy weather fade out as we head towards the more summer-like weather that kicks off some years in December, other years in January. Our feeling is that summer will arive on time this year, if not early, based on current weather patterns.

Gales are in the forecast again today for some inland parts of the South Island and possibly Wellington.  However winds will ease this weekend for most main centres thanks to the large high moving in.   Windiest weather this weekend looks likely to be in Southland or through the Southern Alps.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz