Experts predict cold autumn

Summer is over and people need to get ready for cooler autumn weather.

Even though the temperature reached 27C in Whakatane and Napier yesterday, climate scientists say the mercury will soon retreat.

The autumn outlook is worse in the North Island - where people need to prepare for colder than usual temperatures - than on the Mainland, says the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

Niwa spokesman Dr Jim Salinger said yesterday that over the next three months the North Island's weather would be cooler than the average autumn temperature of 16C.

But he said the South Island's temperatures would stay around 11C - which is normal for this time of year.

Lower air pressures and stronger than normal southwesterlies are expected over the next three months, Niwa said.

North Island regional predictions for the next three months:

* Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty: Average or below average March to May temperatures are likely. Near normal or below normal rainfall.

* Central North Island, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu and Wellington: Average or below average seasonal temperatures are expected. Normal seasonal rainfall.
* Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and the Wairarapa: Seasonal temperatures are forecast to be average or below average. Normal or below normal rainfall and soil moisture levels are expected, with below normal stream flows.

- NZPA