Another day in paradise?

It's a stunning day across New Zealand, despite the cold. But how long will it last? Photo / Alan Gibson

Facebook and Twitter users across the country are commenting on what a beautiful day today is, despite the cold.

It's pretty rare that Auckland has a cloudless day - even on a sunny day you usually you see them drifting in from the sea in the distance - but today, from my location, the sky is truly cloudless.

Something that I think only happens a few times a year. I wonder if it will last the entire day.

Right across New Zealand we have almost July temperatures but blue skies are prevailing with light to non-existent winds for almost two thirds of the nation.

But a low well east of East Cape is fuelling sou'easters across Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and East Cape and clouds should continue to build around East Cape, Gisborne and Wairoa this afternoon with the risk of a few showers.

The best part about this weather is the timing - it falls slap bang in the weekend. How lucky are we? And while conditions aren't perfect for the North Island's north east coast conditions will improve tomorrow as the high finally 'owns' the North Island too.

Today, it's currently centred over the South Island. Actually, the high is split in two - a bit like a double egg yolk (aren't they creepy? I can't eat them... something about two yolks joined together that just doesn't look right). There is a high pressure centre just off the west and east coasts of the South Island - and it's this double strength that is holding back the next wave of unsettled weather....for now.

A low is forming in the central Tasman Sea and basically the longer the high stays in place the more time the low has to develop and deepen.

The high is a slow mover...but that's a good thing if you like sunny skies - and if you want the heat to return - because as the high slowly departs to the east the winds will shift from the southerly quarter to the much warmer northerly quarter. Expect highs back in the late teens for the South Island later next week - and probably the North Island too.

I don't think we'll see rain until later in the week...so make the most of the sun and light winds if you have them today. And if you're in Gisborne stay positive - your sunny, settled, weather will arrive during tomorrow and into early next week as the high drifts it's centre over you.

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- Philip Duncan Weather Watch