Hazy summer days give way to ‘boring’ winter

The country may be in line for a mild winter. Forecasters predict "reasonably normal" weather patterns over the next few months.

Most places will see close to average rainfall and temperatures until June according to three-month averages, and weather experts say there is little sign that that will change further into winter.

NIWA principal scientist Jim Renwick summed up the outlook for late autumn and early weeks of winter in one word: "boring".

"There's no strong reasons why the climate round the country should be any different from normal. Having said that, it doesn't rule out lots of individual events and variability."

Dr Renwick said it was still too early to tell what deepest, darkest winter would be like, but there was no reason to suppose the ski season would be any different than usual. However, Dr Renwick said wild weather, like the flooding in the lower North and upper South Islands last week, could usually not be picked up more than a week out.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY