Mild winter predicted to frustrate skiers

If you’re a keen skier hoping for a long season on the slopes, you might be out of luck. The rest of winter looks set to be a warm one.

Over the next three months, warm spells are on the cards for the majority of the country, according to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa).

The near or above average temperatures forecast are owed to higher than normal sea surface temperatures, Niwa’s latest seasonal climate outlook shows.

Niwa meteorologist Ben Noll said warm air temperatures would likely mean we’re in for a slightly warmer end to winter and start to spring.

‘‘Looking back at the start to winter in June, we’ve had a very, pretty tranquil run here – little to no snowfall, other than the first week of the month, temperatures that have been fairly mild for the time of year. Certainly, some chilly mornings but rainfall has been well below normal to start the season across the country.’’

He said July through to September would gradually become more active on the weather front, with more regular rainfall and fronts coming through.

‘‘It’s not looking like it’ll be the coldest of winters, which some people may like, but the skifields in the South Island may not be huge fans of that,’’ Noll added.

A weak, central Pacific El Nino continued during June. There was a 60 per cent chance El Nino would continue over the coming three-month period but it may gradually weaken and become less influential on the global climate system.

For the July to September period, air pressure is forecast to be higher than normal to the northwest of New Zealand, and lower than normal to the south.

Temperatures are forecast to be near average or above average for all regions, owing to warmer than average coastal and regional sea surfaces.