National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) has released its seasonal climate outlook giving a peek into the warm temperatures and Christmas weather forecast Central.

NIWA principal scientist - forecasting Chris Brandolino said a theme for the season (December - February) was warmer than average temperatures across the motu (country).

“I’m hearing jingle bells and . . . we’ll see dryness potentially returning for a good chunk of the South Island [then] . . . normal to dryer than normal for the last week of the year. These things to do change but that’s how they look for now.”

“[You’ll] be running the fan more often, if you’ve got the air conditioning you’ll be running that, probably higher electric bills too, more days outside quite frankly … when the temperatures are warm you’re going to want to be outside as long as it’s not raining.”

For the east and central part of the South Island including inland Otago, NIWA’s team is predicting near normal rainfall for the three month period, with possibly a mid-December rainfall event following a few days of “a really warm” start to summer’s weather.  

Forecast rainfall and temperature for summer. PHOTO: NIWA

Rainfall for Central is most likely to be near normal for summer. 

After a rainfall event in December, weather patterns more typical of La Niña are expected to develop.

La Niña conditions lead to drier and warmer temperatures with north easterly winds becoming more common. These winds may contribute to more days above 25’C than usual.

“In the second half of summer . . . the South Island is likely to see drier conditions . . . some warm temperatures with a reverse foehn . . . Southland, Fiordland and interior Otago could see some spikes in hot temperatures as we progress through the summer

season.

“The same flow of air coming from the north and east could lead to warmer than average temperatures at night,” Chris said. 

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Find the seasonal climate outlook on NIWA’s website

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