Cold front to bring cooler, fresher air and weekend rain to parts of country

Kiwis can expect a break from the mugginess over the weekend as a cold front brings cooler air to the country. Image / MetService

The weekend’s weather will bring some relief from recent humidity, with a cold front set to spread much cooler air over the country.

MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane told the Herald that after “a warm and muggy” few nights, Kiwis can expect a “much cooler and fresher” night’s sleep in the coming days.

“We have a cold front moving up the country and behind that cold front there’s a southwesterly flow, which serves to flush out all of that humid air and bring in much more fresh-feeling air.”

Temperatures will cool down into the high teens and low 20s today but might begin to warm up again heading into tomorrow.

Most parts of the North Island will be a bit wet this afternoon, with showers forecast all the way from the top of the country down to the lower parts of the island.

Makgabutlane recommended keeping an eye on the forecast and rain radar to see how the drizzle is expected to move.

While there will also be some rain in the northernmost areas of the South Island, many places will have a fairly sunny afternoon today, especially Canterbury and Otago.

On Sunday, these clearer and drier conditions will spread to most other parts of the country as much more settled weather moves in.

Swells will be building on southern coasts, but not to the levels reached earlier this week.

“Developing through Saturday and then throughout Sunday, the South Island should see an increase in swell heights,” Makgabutlane said.

“If people do have any plans going out on the water or being near the water, as always, practise those good safety practices and check the weather and the marine-related forecast before heading out.”

Heading into next week, conditions will stay mostly settled, with “the odd shower popping up here and there in the afternoon”.

Temperatures are set to remain in the range expected at this time of year, with highs in the mid-20s expected in some places.