30 January 2015

A change to patches of rain and cooler temperatures

High temperatures, sunny skies and plenty of dry weather - January has been a very settled month. However, changes in the weather patterns over New Zealand for the weekend and the start of February could bring some much needed rainfall to the country followed by some cooler temperatures.

This week has seen the return of active showers over parts of the North Island, however, the distribution of the rainfall has been sporadic. While New Plymouth airport received 42mm of rain on Wednesday the 28th, down the road in Hawera the rain gauge remained empty. Heading into the weekend, an area of low pressure is forecast to bring cloudier conditions across the country, with patchy rain forecast for many places exposed to the west and north. Although some rain will reach the east of the South Island, the Southern Alps are likely to act as a block to much of the rain stopping its journey eastwards.

A change in temperatures is also on the cards for the coming week with a switch in wind direction from recent warm and humid northerlies to a cooler southerly flow. Northerly winds around the top of the South Island on Monday may bring some patchy rainfall into Nelson in time for their Anniversary Day. Although the timing may not be perfect after a very dry month, any rain is likely to be welcomed by many. Rainfall totals in the region over the month of January have remained very low, with only 5mm recorded at Nelson Airport.

For the NRL Auckland Nine's this weekend it looks like there will be a continuation of warm and humid conditions. While it is likely to stay dry at Eden Park, there is the chance of an isolated shower on Saturday and few spots of drizzle for eastern parts of Auckland on Sunday.

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ENDS

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