Large high rolling in over New Zealand

NZME.

7 Sep, 2015 05:34 AM3 mins to read

Temperatures are climbing this week as a low the "size of Australia" moves away. Photo / NZME.

The nip in the air will slowly die off this week as "typical spring weather" sets in, forecasters say.

A cold snap hit the country at the weekend with snow flurries falling to near sea level in parts of Otago and snow giving Mt Ruapehu a powder top up for ski bunnies.

Temperatures are climbing this week as a low the "size of Australia" moves away from the country but there was also unsettled weather on the cards for many, WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said."It's a very, very big low.

It's a tropical Southern Ocean system but it's a very big one, pulling air from Antarctica up to New Zealand but it's moving away.

"Parts of the North Island including Northland and Auckland might see lingering showers but most places would be clearing tomorrow, Mr Duncan said.

A large high rolling in would bring settled weather to much of the country until Wednesday or Thursday when a front brings winds and rain to the South Island.

The high could hold up the front in the North Island where slow-moving rain was expected on Thursday, he said.

Up to 8m swells were expected to hit the east coast of the country and the temperatures were set to take another dip on Friday.

"Friday's a bit of a wintry day but the weekend is looking dry for a number of the main centres.

"Hopefully we're coming to the end of this more wintry stuff. Spring is defined by winter fading away and hints of summer coming in. Spring's definitely here, this is normal weather for spring.

"The snow that hit the country this weekend should ease off with just a few snow showers heading for the South Island and upper mountains of the North Island, he said.

MetService meteorologist Claire Flynn said the warmer temperatures this week would coincide with a high pressure system moving across the country, bringing fine weather for most.

Showers would ease for Auckland and Northland today and become isolated by tomorrow, she said.

But most centres would see rain again by Thursday - as a "complex trough" moves from the South Island into the North Island.

"Mornings are still likely to be frosty in sheltered places, but maximum temperatures are on an increasing trend," Ms Flynn said.

"There is still some uncertainty around the feature crossing the upper North Island later this week. Indications are that this weather system could bring strong winds and a burst of heavy rain to northern parts of the country towards the end of the week."

Meanwhile, a bumper season at Mt Ruapehu has been announced following "spectacular" snow conditions.

The North Island ski resort season has been extended to Labour Weekend - a good 15 days later than its original closing date of October 11 - meaning Mt Ruapehu will become the largest commercial ski area in the Southern Hemisphere open the longest in 2015.

"We've welcomed the cooler temperatures we've been experiencing this spring as it's brought us a significant amount of high quality snow that we weren't expecting," Mt Ruapehu executive manager Simon Dickson said.