Sticky days on the way but don't count on blue skies

Optimist sailors at Kohimarama Beach yesterday were dressed for the still-cold sea. Photo / Greg Bowker

It's going to be a grey, muggy week, with warmer days likely to be matched with high levels of moisture in the air.

Forecasters said the southwesterly winds in Auckland would be replaced by northerlies and the beginning of next month would be warm and wet.

Temperatures were expected to climb into the mid-20s in most of the North Island, but high levels of humidity would make it feel closer to the low-30s in Auckland. Nights were likely to be stuffy, with overnight lows of 17C.

MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said a northerly flow from the sub-tropics would bring mild weather over the North Island until at least the weekend.

He said rain could be expected today, tomorrow and possibly Thursday with heavy falls on the west side of the North Island, especially Taranaki, King Country and the Tararua Ranges. Rain warnings could be issued in those areas.

The damp weather would also encourage the red-crimson bloom of the pohutukawa, said Mr McDavitt. "The trees are loving it. With a bit of rain in the air, the pohutukawa are sucking it in and some flowers are already popping out."

Weatherwatch head analyst Philip Duncan said the rain would be welcome in increasingly dry East Coast regions, which had regular 30C days last week. He said there was good news for holidaymakers and swimmers as calmer, clearer weather was expected by Saturday.

Coastal water temperature, at present a chilly 16C from the Bay of Plenty northwards, would begin rising.