New Zealand Weather

[J07]

We seem to be settling into something of a typical summer pattern, albeit El Nino. So the subtropical ridge is a few degrees further north than normal.

Last week's unusual pattern: a ridge to the south of the South Island (statistically this is far more common in winter) and a warm conveyor of subtropical air pouring onto the North Island. It lasted quite a while, keeping things cold down south and warm and humid up north. Dewpoints of 20C became commonplace, but despite this there was little rain to ease the Northland drought...apart from the severe thunderstorms which delivered good falls to lucky spots.

Now the pattern has gone "back to normal". High persists in the north Tasman Sea (subtropical ridge), keeping a northwest flow over the north of the NI. This generally keeps things settled and pleasant up there. Reasonable humidity but way down on recent times due to the lack of a long fetch (last week the air was coming from inside the tropics, near New Caledonia).

Whangarei looks to get 5 or so days of dry weather, highs of around 25C and lows 15C. Not much wind and no rain. Sounds perfect to me for summertime...but farmers won't like it.

Fronts will move up the country delivering bursts of northwest winds and a few showers. High 20s in the east when the NWers peak, maybe higher if we get a fetch from Australia. The fronts will probably do their typical summertime act of falling apart as they reach the North Island.

[conor123]

I swear in Australia Adelaide and the South East of Aus ALWAYS have a heatwave which peaks on Wednesday's everyweek then a blast of very cool air the day after.

Looks a warm Christmas for much of New Zealand, im guessing the UV index is very high at the moment?

[J07]

I think last years Melbourne Feb heatwave peaked on a weekend! And in November Adelaide's heatwave was pretty much on-going for 10 days.

NZ is a good place to be this Christmas. Dunedin Airport reached 32C at 6PM. So much for the "Scottish City".

It is basically fine and sunny everywhere.

UV index ranges from 11 in the South to 14 in the North. (Both are "Extreme") That is what is predicted anyway. We will see tomorrow what was actually recorded!

Meanwhile, Sydney had a high of 21C, rain and gusty southerly winds. Hardly a day to spend on the beach!