Scorchers over but it’s not autumn yet
The hot weather of Waitangi Day spells the end of scorching temperatures as forecasters predict the South’s run of 30C days may be over.
But although an easterly flow is moving down the North Island from the tropics, bringing cool temperatures and rain with it, the country will enjoy more warm weather before autumn sets in.
Thousands of Kiwis were out enjoying the sun and beaches with friends and family on Waitangi Day. But down South, the Southern Alps got a fresh dusting of snow yesterday morning.
Gisborne was the hottest yesterday, reaching 28C, while Gore in the South Island was a stark contrast at 12C.
The cool weather and rain will begin in the top of the North Island tomorrow and drift south on Friday.
Today will see temperatures cool in the north, with cloud cover moving over Northland, then down the North Island.
“The top of the North Island and Auckland will see an easterly flow kick in this evening [last night],” MetService meteorologist Ravi Kandula said.
“Across the country we will see lower temperatures than we have seen over the last couple of days.”
On Friday rain will move down through Northland and Auckland to Rotorua, Taupo, Gisborne and other areas in the central North Island.
But for the South Island it will be very settled with no rain expected until Sunday, he said.
WeatherWatch said a dusting of snow in the middle of a New Zealand summer is not uncommon, but it’s likely the South Island’s summer heat has peaked.
“The next few days will see a gradual warm-up, but long-range data suggests we may not be seeing many 30C-plus days coming up with highs mainly in the mid 20s,” a WeatherWatch NZ spokesperson said.
“Overnight lows will be in the single digits for the next couple of nights but by the end of the week . . . the humid northeast flow around New Zealand will see overnight lows in the mid teens and low 20s.”
The North Island is expected to be back to high humidity soon thanks to a subtropical flow.