With just a few days of autumn left, prolonged warm weather and less rain than normal means some spots across New Zealand are heading for the record books.

NIWA will release its official Autumn Climate Summary next week but a spate of prolonged fine weather – particularly in the South Island – has seen several places edging closer to their warmest autumn on record, according to NIWA climate scientist Nava Fedaeff. However, rain this week could see rankings change.

Potential autumn record breakers are:

• Milford Sound - on track for warmest Autumn – records began 1934
• Mt Cook - on track for warmest Autumn – records began 1929
• Tekapo - on track for warmest Autumn – records began 1927
• Dunedin - on track for warmest Autumn – records began 1947
• Invercargill - on track for warmest Autumn – records began 1905
• Gore - on track for 2nd warmest Autumn – records began 1907
• Taupo – on track for 2nd warmest Autumn – records began 1949
• Hokitika - on track for 4th warmest Autumn – records began 1866

Ms Fedaeff says dry conditions will also be a key feature of the autumn summary. Locations currently experiencing their driest autumn on record are : Kaitaia, Kaikohe, Whangarei, Whangaparaoa, Auckland (Mangere), Whitianga, Te Puke, Whakatane, Taupo, Hamilton, Dannevrike, and Tiwai Point.

The warmth has largely been a result of a lack of southerlies and frequent bouts of high pressure. The seas around NZ also remain warmer than average which has also contributed to warmer temperatures.

These factors are in addition to climate change which contributes to the observed above average temperatures. New Zealand has not experienced a nationwide monthly mean temperature that was below average (0.51C to 1.20C below the 1981-2010 average) in 28 months or since January 2017.

Meanwhile, wet and windy weather is set to hit the country over the long weekend with chilly temperatures and even some snow forecast for Friday.

NIWA's winter climate outlook will be released on Thursday.

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