A spring-like weather pattern is beginning to emerge across New Zealand, bringing stronger westerly winds, brief temperature lifts and the potential for severe gales.

Forecasters warn winter is far from finished.

In a media release, WeatherWatch said the country was starting to see signs of the seasonal shift that typically arrives in late August and early September, marked by an increase in westerly airflow and changing weather conditions.

However, the forecast comes with a warning: colder southerly outbreaks and wintry snaps are still expected in the weeks ahead.

The past several weeks have delivered what WeatherWatch described as a “classic winter”, with temperatures ranging from normal to below normal and frequent blasts of cold Antarctic air pushing north across the country.

While spring patterns are beginning to take shape, WeatherWatch said there was “no immediate end in sight” to those winter influences.

“This may end up being a classic spring, with warmer spells interrupted by wintry snaps,” the forecaster said.

That differs from some recent years, particularly in northern New Zealand, where spring-like conditions arrived earlier and more consistently.

The biggest change expected in the coming days is a return to windy westerlies, which are forecast to strengthen from the weekend.

WeatherWatch said some parts of the country could experience severe or damaging gale-force winds for a time.

The unsettled pattern is also expected to continue into next week, with a low-pressure system potentially moving out of Australia towards New Zealand.

Meteorological winter officially ends on August 31, while astronomical winter runs until September 23.

WeatherWatch said that although the calendar dates for the seasons remain fixed, weather pattern changes vary from year to year.

In recent years, spring-like conditions have sometimes arrived as early as the final week of July, but this year appears to be following a more traditional seasonal transition.

For now, New Zealanders can expect a taste of spring mixed with a lingering dose of winter.