Wellington warming up to springtime by a degree

It’s not quite spring but temperatures are warming up in the capital – by 1 degree Celsius.

Temperatures in Wellington have been about 1C warmer than usual this month, with several 16C days recorded.

The slightly warmer weather is set to continue with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) predicting above-average temperatures for next month and October.

Weather warnings were issued around the country earlier this week, as parts of the South Island were pummelled by rain. However, the capital mostly avoided the chill.

‘‘It has been very spring-like conditions,’’ MetService meteorologist Arno Dyason said.

Wellington’s good fortune started on August 7 when a slow-moving low drew warm air in as it moved over the capital, Dyason said. ‘‘We’ve actually had a really nice run of warmer weather.’’

Several days that week reached a maximum of 16C, with a high of 18C recorded at Kelburn on Saturday.

The highest ever August temperature of 19.3C was recorded on August 15, 2009.

A series of westerly and northwesterly fronts have kept it warmer in the capital while bringing heavy rain to the South Island.

‘‘So far in August, Wellington is running warmer than average,’’ Niwa meteorologist Seth Carrier said. ‘‘It does look, for the next few days at least, until early next week [that] temperatures in Wellington will remain a little above average.’’

The milder August conditions did not reflect the overall trend for winter, which has been as cold and only slightly wetter than normal.

The mean temperature recorded at Wellington Airport this winter was 10.2C.

Niwa has recorded 326 millimetres of rain at Wellington Airport so far this winter.

It’s not time to break out your sun hat just yet, though; northerly gales are forecast to move over the lower North Island tomorrow, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. A severe gale warning is in force for Wellington.