March 1 marks the official start to Autumn in NZ - but what makes it "official" and why are so many people saying summer still has 3 more weeks to go? We also track any potential rainmakers (a few showers coming in this weekend) and we update you on the sub-tropical low expected north of NZ around mid-March, and how - if it all - it might impact us.
A very large high pressure system means summer will end this week on a mostly sunny and hot note. With nights now about 90 minutes longer than they were back in December expect cooler mornings but still warm to hot days. Little in the way of rain but showers are possible in the North Island's north east and in the Deep South.
It's the last official weekend of summer but there are no signs of summer weather easing anytime soon with a dry weekend moving in and a dry, settled, week next week. So, how much longer do we have to wait for rain? Philip Duncan takes a look at conditions around NZ and our part of the world.
"Summer is officially coming to an end but tell that to the weather! Despite a few showers and a cool southerly change for some today, the trend is for warm, dry weather to remain until the end of the month...but what are the chances for rain in early March?
More bad news for farmers and those who rely on rain water as the rain maps indicates no rain this week – so when will the rain arrive? We take a look at the maps.
A very big high pressure system is on the way for the next week, ending the cooler south west flow that's continued this week. We also look to the tropics for a possible tropical low in 7 to 10 day's time.
We take a look at the cooler south west flow pushing in across the country - but also warmer weather is the on the way with one model predicting a rain maker at the end of this month/start of March. Fingers crossed! We also show you video and a fantastic photo from the Vatican City, just hours after the Pope resigned lightning hit the Vatican twice…we have the video and photo.
Cooler weather is on it's way for many areas of the country due to a south west change.
Philip Duncan takes a look at the weekend weather and it looks sunny and warm for most - but are we heading into a slightly cooler phase? We also take a look at a Canadian city which is experiencing daytime highs between -18 and -40C.
We look out the conditions for Waitangi Day 2013, rain, wind, temperature and we check the swells around NZ's beaches.
Rain is pushing into many western and central areas today - with heavy falls expected across many dry farms and gardens. However not all of New Zealand will receive rain - we break down the rain maps in more detail than we usually do over the next 48 hours - plus we look at Waitangi Day weather.
One high departs but another is hot on its heels - and in between there is a moderate chance of rain, especially for the middle of the country. In this weekend's weather video we also have detailed swell and heat maps for Saturday - plus we take a close look at Monday's predicted rain map and which regions are most likely to see some of the wet stuff.
We track the first large rain band in three weeks as it heads towards western and hopefully northern New Zealand next week. We also look at a tragic international story unfolding in which hundreds of thousands of innocent children are forced to live in refugee camps during a brutal winter - and you can help.
Australia gets soaked and NZ continues to dry out this week - however as January draws to a close some rain clouds are appearing on the horizon for the first week of February. We'll tell you what the chances of rain are over the next week and who has the best chance of receiving it!
A large high will bring easterlies to northern New Zealand and mostly light winds elsewhere. We track a few showers over the coming days - we'll show you who is most at risk. Then we take a look at the end of January - and look at the rain chances for early February.
A series of highs are crossing New Zealand with one strong high in charge this coming weekend. However the high will be just east of New Zealand and that will allow an easterly flow across the top of the country for the upcoming Auckland Anniversary Weekend.
Most of NZ is in for a very dry end to January. There will be a few showers about. So we'll track that - and we take a look at the coming weekend forecast…which also looks pretty good for the most part, but is that another tropical low forming?
Winter like temperatures have greeted some people on Friday morning but the heat returns across the weekend and into next week as our springlike weather pattern starts to calm down significantly. Summer will lock itself in across the north and east, while those in the south will still see unsettled weather - but it should improve significantly on this past week!
As parts of Australia climb to 40 degrees on Thursday some parts of New Zealand will only reach the low teens, all created by the same big high in the Tasman Sea. The next few days look windy, showery or cold for a number of regions - with even a few showers for the dry east, although nothing substantial for most eastern areas.
The unsettled spring-like weather pattern continues as we reach the halfway point of January. The week ahead looks changeable with hot and cooler weather, but generally speaking things will be a little cooler this week. Also, we track a tropical cyclone that hugs western Australia - but then helps fuel a storm closer to Antarctica and the South Island this Friday and Saturday - watch the video for this odd story!
The weather we've been having for the past 5 weeks is what a "fairly average summer" in New Zealand looks like.
Another surge in 40+ degree heat for much of Australia this Friday, while some heat will cross into eastern NZ pushing the mercury above 30 degrees. We still have a 'spring like' weather pattern for some, mostly the West Coast, Southland and Otago - we have more details on that, while the upper North Island remains mostly settled and dry.
Philip Duncan takes a look at why conditions around New Zealand are so changeable this summer, why it's windy, when or if the wind will ease, how busy are the tropics and why this big heat wave is in Australia.
Seems weird but we do have a spring-like weather pattern at the moment defined by surges of very windy weather, plenty of westerlies and a shortage of long lastinghighs. Great news for farmers, but a little more challenging for holidaymakers.
No matter how you slice it summer has arrived - though it's been far from perfect for some parts of NZ
We take a look at the final days of 2012 weather wise and how New Year's Eve and Day are currently shaping up. Plus, a new tropical cyclone forms north of New Zealand and one model is picking it could be another Evan, including reaching NZ and fizzling out - but not all models agree. We weigh up the odds.
Christmas Day will be hot and steamy, with rain forecast for the North Island while dry in the south.
Evan looks set to bring some wet weather for Christmas Day and perhaps a wet Boxing Day too - however a big chunk of NZ will have sunny weather, especially the South Island.
Evan is no longer a tropical cyclone but remains a potent low packed with tropical moisture. While the low is expected to cross the North Island it is still predicted to fizzle out around Christmas Day.
We track Tropical Cyclone Evan's track to NZ and finally a look at how Christmas Day is shaping up.
Severe tropical cyclone Evan will slowly clear Fiji and returns to the open waters of the Pacific as it heads directly south towards the Upper North Island. Evan is expected to linger over the upper North Island of New Zealand this Saturday, Sunday and Monday then fizzle out over/near the North Island on Christmas Day.