Indian summer tipped to roll on

Selwyn College students Marlina Rogers (front), Poto Suifili (left) and Ashlee Puleiata can look forward to more days at the beach like the one they enjoyed yesterday at Mission Bay in Auckland. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Climate specialists are predicting that the rest of autumn will be warm and windy.

The outlook for April to June issued by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) yesterday says weak El Nino conditions should ease to neutral by May, with average or above average sea temperatures around New Zealand.

Niwa is predicting low pressures to the west and stronger than normal northerly winds throughout the whole country with average or above average temperatures in all districts.

Rainfall should be normal in most districts except the northern North Island, where it may be wetter than normal. But Northland, Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty will enjoy higher than average temperatures.

Meanwhile, Niwa figures show the wettest, sunniest and windiest places over the past 30 years are Milford Sound, Blenheim and Wellington.

Milford Sound had on average 186 wet days a year. Alexandra has the fewest wet days. Blenheim had the most sunshine and Mt Cook the least. Wellington was easily the windiest centre, with an average wind speed of 22km/h.

- NZPA, STAFF REPORTER