Holidays to end on chilly note

Twins Amber (left) and Jasmyn Kettle, 4, test out the cold water at Browns Bay yesterday. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The second half of school holidays could be a chilly affair, with wind expected for the north during the week, frosts predicted in the heartland, and heavy rain in the south.

Weatherwatch weather analyst Phillip Duncan warns that a large low lurking to the northeast of North Cape will bring southeasterlies across the northern half of the North Island.

The low this week is about 1000km further northeast of the county and is going to bring southeast winds, clouds and a few showers to East Cape and Gisborne today and tomorrow while clouds and southeast winds will affect Northland, Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula.

It should be enough to keep frosts away for the next few nights for these regions, although temperatures will still be close to zero. Meanwhile, a front is lining up for Southland and coastal Otago, bringing clouds and a few showers today and tomorrow.

To top off the week, a larger front, currently battering South Australia, should arrive bringing rain heavy enough to possibly prompt rain warnings on the West Coast.

But there is some good news - no polar blasts are expected for at least the next 10 days, Mr Duncan said.

- Staff reporter