Warm and windy autumn predicted

The rest of autumn will be warm and windy, according to climate specialists.

A seasonal climate outlook for April to June issued by the National Institute of Water and Atmospherics (NIWA) national climate centre today says weak El Nino conditions should ease to neutral by May, with average or above average sea temperatures around New Zealand.

The centre is predicting low pressures to the west and stronger than normal northerly winds across the whole country with average or above average temperatures in all districts.

Rainfall should be normal in most districts except the northern North Island where it may be wetter than normal.

In its regional predictions the only variance in the centre's predictions is for Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty where the centre says temperatures should be above average.

For the rest of New Zealand its says temperatures will be average or above average and there will be normal seasonal rainfall, moisture levels and stream and river flows.

- NZPA