A warmer week

A warmer week

A ridge over the North Island will bring settled weather there this week.Meanwhile, a slow-moving front over the South Island produces rain for the west, with scattered falls further east. Temperatures have returned to normal for this time of the year, and will be relatively warm in the far south towards the end of the week.

Plenty of blue skies are forecast for the North Island during the first half of this week as a ridge builds. This is in sharp contrast to the heavy rain and thunderstorms seen on Saturday in the north, when Hamilton airport recorded 102 mm of rain in just 12 hours (7am to 7pm Saturday). An easterly flow develops towards Wednesday bringing cloud and a few showers to eastern parts, but staying clear in the west. The clear skies do mean that fog is likely to develop, and linger on into the morning, for the typically foggy-spots such as Hamilton.

A front hangs about over the South Island during the first half of this week, bringing rain to Westland and Fiordland and scattered falls to most other places. A weather watch for heavy rain is in place for southern Westland and Fiordland through to Tuesday evening. The front gradually weakens as a northeasterly flow develops on Wednesday, bringing drier weather to most.

"Temperature-wise, after the cold blast from the Antarctic early last week,temperatures have returned to average or warmer for this time of the year," said MetService meteorologist Emma Blades. This is thanks to a warmer flow from the east. The North Island will reach daytime maximums of around 20C, and night-time minimums of around 12C. "The South Island temperatures will gradually pick-up towards the end of the week, with Queenstown, Alexandra and Invercargill possibly reaching daytime maximums of 20C. It will still feel a little chilly at night though, with minimums below 10C for most," commented Blades.

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