Weather Watch believes the gales that lashed Mt Hutt could be the parting shot from a frustrated winter overtaken by spring a month early.
Forecaster Philip Duncan says northern and eastern regions can expect warm temperatures to accompany heavy rain, with Whangarei, Auckland and the Bay of Plenty reaching up to 20C this weekend.
The North Island is expected to follow the warm trend, accompanied by rain, until the end of August when spring is officially here.
The Mt Hutt road reopened yesterday morning, freeing 1200 skiers trapped at the summit overnight by winds of more than 200km/h.
Spring arrives early
A spring Lamb ventures out under the watchfull gaze of its mother. Photo / APN
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