WeatherWatch: Feeling spring in the air

Spring is practically upon us. Photo / NZ Herald

It's a weird thing. Here we are just a week after the shortest day of the year - and to some the official start of winter - and yet here I am feeling spring in the air.

OK, I'll be straight up - this blog is probably more targeted at those from Waikato northwards - but this weekend I noticed a few things which reminded me of just how short our winters really are in northern New Zealand.

As I woke to a 10 degree morning on Sunday, and big blue skies, there was an element of "this doesn't feel like the middle of winter". The wind was a westerly and it was mild and despite a few showers there where big long sunny spells.

After a busy few months I decided to tackle some serious gardening for the first time in a long time - I have the cuts and scratches and dirt embedded in my nails today to prove it.

Being in my Auckland garden reminded me of just how gentle winter can be for us in the north. While Alexandra only made it to zero degrees on Sunday it was 16 in Auckland. I noticed a couple of big red hibiscus flowers still in bloom. A few lilies were still flowering too...along with miniature rhododendrons. Outside my bedroom I had geraniums, and other frost sensitive plants, still brightly flowering.

At my parents house in the eastern Waikato daffodils are not only coming out of the ground but some have started flowering.

And lambing is practically upon us - just a month away.

It's almost as if the upper North Island doesn't really have a real winter...just a long Autumn and Spring. Compared to overseas nations - such as America, Canada or even much of Europe - our winter is very similar to their late spring and early Autumn...only Central Otago and Southland seem to endure similar conditions to overseas...especially Central Otago.

While gardening I managed to wear shorts and a t-shirt. Not a pretty sight for passers-by but I felt warm while I was working in the yard. Wasn't until I came inside and sat down that I felt a chill and lit the fire.

This year is particularly mild for the north, especially overnight. Temperatures, for some, are several degrees above average. Daytime highs are probably about average at a guess... maybe a degree or so over...but it's the nights that are noticeably warmer for many of us - thanks to westerlies and not southerlies and rain, not frosts.