MetService: Blue skies ahead

Blue skies are forecast for the North Island during the first half of this week as a ridge of high pressure builds.

This is in sharp contrast to the heavy weekend rain and thunderstorms in the north, when Hamilton airport recorded 102 mm of rain in 12 hours from 7am to 7pm on Saturday.


MetService meteorologist Emma Blades says temperatures have returned to normal following last week's cold spell. Photo: File.

Cloud and a few showers to eastern parts return as an easterly flow develops towards Wednesday, but it is 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.

While the ridge over the North Island will bring settled weather this week, 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.

A front hangs 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 north-easterly flow develops on Wednesday, bringing drier weather to most places.

'After the cold blast from the Antarctic early last week, temperatures have returned to average or warmer for this time of the year,” says 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.

'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.”

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