Settled weather on way for Wairarapa

WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said there should largely be good weather in Wairarapa for the rest of January. PHOTO/FILE

Wairarapa should have mostly dry, settled weather for the remainder of the school holidays, a forecaster says.

WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said there should largely be good weather in Wairarapa for the rest of January.

"There's westerlies blowing through in the next few days and then high pressure moves through, which normally means fairly warm to hot weather.

"It will certainly be dry, with perhaps some showers around January 13 -- what's called convergence showers where you get wind blowing in two different directions and a few heavy downpours.

"But mostly, it'll be dry for the next couple of weeks; typical summer weather, really."

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) predicted dry, settled weather in Wairarapa in its latest outlook, with average summer temperatures and below average rainfall until February.

MetService is expecting some rain in the region next week, with highs between 18C and 26C. Overall, January was likely to be cooler than usual nationwide with a mix of dry and weeks, according to MetService.

"Clear signals of below normal temperatures are seen everywhere in the country during January, although eastern areas of both islands return to normal by the last week of the month ... Less than normal rainfall continues in the eastern parts, near normal elsewhere."

Mr Duncan was also expecting changeable weather.

"There's an unsettled weather pattern coming through. [The unsettled weather pattern] is a good thing because it's going to bring some rain, which farmers need, especially in the South Island.

"Campers will, of course, also have to deal with the rain but it shouldn't go on long enough to deter many."

A band of high pressure during the middle of January would cause the weather to settle down and temperatures to ramp up later in the month, he said.

"It'll be good weather for holidaymakers. There's perhaps a few more showers in the forecast for holiday spots than last summer but there's definitely still plenty of dry weather coming in so it's a good mix."