Southerlies Keep Temperatures Below Summer Average

Temperatures over the next 7 days may feel less like summer and more like spring/autumn. A large low has been sitting just west off Chatham Islands spanning all the way to the mainland for the past few days sending rain or showers and cold south/southeasterlies up the East Coast of the North Island. This will likely continue over the course of Monday and Tuesday. Southerlies will continue for the rest of the week as a cold front from the south progresses up the country. Day time temperatures ranging from 15-22 degrees for southern and eastern regions.

For the South Island, most regions enjoy warmer weather on Monday and Tuesday before a cold front arrives later in the day on Tuesday dropping the temperatures below 20 degrees. Temperatures will remain between 15-20 degrees for coastal areas with temperatures slightly lower inland areas.

We are expecting above normal temperatures for the Western South Island at times between fronts thanks to reverse foehn effect.

Below is a 7 day temperature anomaly map. An anomaly is a term that describes the difference compared to the long term average. For example, if the long-term average is 25 degrees for January and the temperature is forecasted to be 15 degrees, the anomaly is -10 degrees. The same applies if the temperature is above the long-term average resulting in a positive anomaly.

Anomaly temperatures form Monday 6th January to Sunday 12th January

Five day anomaly from Monday 5th January until Friday 10th January

Along with the below average temperatures the bulk of rainfall will be restricted to southern eastern regions of both Islands with the exception of Nelson/Tasman and Coastal Buller. Rainfall anomaly for the next 5 days shows the expected rainfall total compared to the average for this time of the year.

PLEASE NOTE: Much of the country is under total fire ban with other regions under lower restrictions. Even with lower than normal temperatures, colder winds and rain in some regions forecasted for this coming week, that does not mean it is okay to light a fire.

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For more in-depth forecasts for the coming days ahead check out our Significant Weather Outlook