KEY POINTS:
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy- and hopefully those lyrics will be true for many New Zealanders this week as a huge high pressure system rolls onto the country!
The high - which matches that of a summer time one in size and strength - will spread over the country during Thursday clearing skies in a number of regions and helping dry out the saturated ground at both ends of the country. The weekend is looking dry and calm for pretty much everyone. There may be a few little showers in the far north as that easterly kicks in but the warmth in the air will make it feel completely spring-like.
In fact winter - after being such a wet one - is going to go out in style with sun and warmth for many spots.
Spring in New Zealand officially starts on Monday - September 1st - and that day is also looking spring-like. All across New Zealand buds are coming out, daffodils are in full bloom, the grass is starting to grow again (well, in the areas where it's not 2 feet under water!) and lambs and calves are gracing our roadsides.
At this time of year I start to not care about winter storms - it's as if they're powerless to bring me down because I'm already feeling so positive about Spring! Not to mention the sun feels much warmer now - in fact, if you live from Auckland northwards the burn time is already at "moderate" or "4".
That means if you're fair skinned you could actually get burnt in about 30 or 40 minutes - just have that in the back of you mind if you're out and about this weekend. We have our lack of ozone layer to thank for that one. Mind you, sometimes highs can trap low cloud in them - Auckland is especially exposed to these "dirty highs". Here's hoping the winds stay south easterly, because when they swing to the east or north east they can often drag cloud and even the odd little shower in.
Of course winter storms are possible right through until as late as December. Crazy I know. There have been snow storms right through November and December over the past 30 years so while we can enjoy more sun and hopefully some drier weather over the next 3 months we're definitely not out of the woods.
Speaking of storms, I was looking out my window a couple of weeks ago as a gale force wind pounded Auckland, and I noticed 2 birds flying along and then landing in a tree (which was blowing all over the place). It made me think - what do birds do when there's a huge storm? So I decided to ask someone at the Royal Forest and Bird Society!
Kevin Hackwell, Advocacy Manager for Forest and Bird says for some seabirds an approaching storm can be a real help for getting around.
"When they detect an approaching storm, especially in the autumn when they don't have a nest or young to protect, they can fly ahead of the storm, carried by the winds at the forefront of the system. If they are looking after young they just hunker down and get wet like the rest of us".
He says birds are very sensitive to changes in air pressure and know instinctively to take shelter. A sharp drop in barometric pressure alerts them that a big storm is on the way. He says most birds don't go too far, heading back to their roost or finding any sort of shelter out of the wind, hail and rain.
"Most perching birds' feet work so that when a bird lands, special muscles make their toes automatically tighten around the branch on which they are perched. This holds them in place during high winds or when they sleep. Birds must make an effort to unclench their toes in order to take off. Therefore, during a storm, the birds do not necessarily need to hang on tighter - they need to relax!"
"Some birds are picked up by the storm system and carried long distances. Many new sightings of unusual Australian Birds occur after strong fronts have raced across the Tasman Sea. After major storms some bird watchers will carry out a "beach patrol" to count the number of dead seabirds which get washed up on shore and to check which species they are and whether they have been previously tagged. If they carry a leg tag the details will be recorded and reported to the Ornithological Society of New Zealand. These records have been known to reveal birds such as albatross that were born on islands in the south Atlantic".
Thanks Kevin - really appreciate that! If you're interested in learning more about Forest & Bird go to www.forestandbird.org.nz
Philip Duncan
Pictured above: A New Zealand Fairy Tern at Pakiri Beach. Photo / Paul Estcourt
For the latest weather news keep up to date with The Radio Network's new Weather Watch Centre or the NZ Herald weather section.
