15 Jan 2021

Sunny, settled weather not forecast to continue into the weekend

8:05 am on 15 January 2021

The warm and sunny spell is set to end, as rain, wind and cooler temperatures are forecast for much of the country this weekend and early next week.

Beautiful view from top in a Waiheke Island, New Zealand with a beautiful blue sky and a white sand in a sunny day.

Photo: 123RF

MetService reports that yesterday most places had maximum temperatures in the mid to high 20s, with Invercargill at the bottom with 19C and Taumaranui at the top with 30C.

MetService is forecasting that wind, rain and a noticeable drop in temperature are likely throughout next week.

MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said the wet and windy weather will kick in from Saturday night with a front moving across.

He said the heaviest rainfall will be on the West Coast, and the least wet places will be the East Coast of the North Island and northern regions.

The South Island and Wellington are both expected to take the brunt of northerly winds.

Ferris said temperatures are likely to fall, and some Central Otago places could drop to five degrees below the average for this time of year.