Meteorologists are forecasting a warm end to spring, with tomorrow in particular set to see high temperatures in places.
“Settled weather and warmer temperatures are on the cards this week for most, due to a deep ridge of high pressure over the North Island,” MetService said.
“This controls the weather for Aotearoa New Zealand as we head into summer — despite the best efforts of two rain bands from the south, which cannot make it past the West Coast.”
A heavy rain watch has been issued for Fiordland from 11am to 6pm tomorrow.
“With meteorological summer starting on Sunday, this coming week could be a taster for what’s in store for those warmer, settled months ahead,” MetService said earlier this week.
Hastings in Hawke’s Bay was expected to see a high of 31C tomorrow, while Gisborne could hit 30C, the forecaster said.
MetService meteorologist Dom Barry said in a statement: “Above average temperatures will also be felt overnight, with warm and muggy nights on the way for many areas, some places like Auckland only cooling to 16C.”
‘It’s not just the North Island that’s going to be warm’
Lewis Ferris, a meteorologist with the forecaster, told 1News: “Even today, it looks like most of the country is kind of on the warmer side of average.
“The biggest departures from normal are seen around the Central Otago and Southland areas today — which is also gonna mean quite warm temperatures overnight.”
“Thursday is the day we’re gonna see the warmest temperatures of this week,” he said, confirming Hawke’s Bay in particular would be balmy.
“But it’s not just the North Island that’s going to be warm, also Marlborough and Canterbury look to be much warmer than normal.”
Some parts of those regions could also reach the 30C mark, Ferris said.
Colder on the Coast
The rain moving up the West Coast tomorrow would ease before reaching the North Island, Ferris said.
“That band of rain moving up the West Coast on Thursday is associated with a cold front,” he added. That will be “noticeable for some places” later in the day tomorrow and lead to a drop in temperatures on Friday for southern and eastern parts of the South Island.
“Even though we’re inching closer and closer to December, the start of meteorological summer, it doesn’t mean that we won’t see the odd cold front move up the country and bring some cold air in, it just becomes less common, less frequent.”
That rain would also bring “blustery” winds ahead of it, Ferris said. “It will be a little bit breezy.”
Strong wind watches have been issued for Otago, Southland, southern and eastern Fiordland, and Stewart Island from 8am to 7pm tomorrow.
But the temperature on the West Coast will “rebound” back to average or above average on Saturday, Ferris said.
