KEY POINTS:
Now could be a good time to scrape down the barbie, with the experts predicting a warm and settled start to summer over most of the country.
In a seasonal outlook issued today, National Institute of Weather and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) forecasters said the weather between now and January should offer above average temperatures, light winds, and near normal or below normal rainfall.
Normal or below normal soil moisture levels and stream flows are likely in most regions.
El Nino conditions over the Pacific Ocean were currently neutral and were very likely to stay that way during the summer, Niwa said.
There was a normal (four out of five) chance of an ex-tropical cyclone passing within 500km of the country between November and May, with Northland and Gisborne most at risk.
Sea surface temperatures were expected to be near normal.
- NZPA
