NZ winter tipped to be warmer than usual

Temperatures should be warmer than normal for much of New Zealand for the rest of winter, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) climate centre says.

The July to September outlook, released yesterday, said temperatures should be above average in the top half of the North Island, the East Coast of the North Island and the top of the South Island.

Temperatures should be average or above average in the rest of the country, though typical wintry cold spells were likely to occur from time to time.

Rainfall was predicted to be normal or below normal for the top of the North Island and the East Coast, normal or above normal in the west and south of the South Island, and normal elsewhere.

Normal stream flows and soil moisture were expected in most areas.

The exceptions were in the east of the South Island, where stream flows and soil moisture could be below normal, and the east of the North Island, where stream flows but not soil moisture could be below normal.

Niwa said the tropical Pacific was in a neutral state, with no El Nino or La Nina patterns, and greater westerlies to the south.

- NZPA