Northlanders are hoping for a rainy respite from the glorious weather.
Northlanders are hoping for a rainy respite from the glorious weather.
Showers are possible in Northland in coming weeks but they are unlikely to upset holidaymakers, a forecaster says.
WeatherWatch forecaster Philip Duncan said a rainmaker might arrive between January 15 and 22 but humid easterlies would dominate the region's weather for the rest of summer, bringing dry conditions. Windflow fromthe tropics might cause rain later in the month but highs would control Northland's weather.
Temperatures had been in the late 20s and early 30s, which was fairly normal for this time of year, he said. "More easterlies may make it a little bit cooler in the Bay of Islands but it won't be cold. If anything it'll be more bearable than normal."
A tropical storm around New Caledonia in the next two weeks could further increase the easterly wind, cloud and humidity in the region, but predicted major El Nino effects were unlikely.
El Nino generates an abnormal warming of ocean surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific, typically associated with stronger or more frequent winds that lead to drier conditions in the east of New Zealand and more rain in the west. Niwa is predicting Northland temperatures to be near or above average and rainfall to be near average from January to March.
MetService meteorologist John Law said highs that had been dominating New Zealand recently were expected to continue next week, bringing drier-than-usual conditions to most of the country.
