A cool southerly, which moved up much of New Zealand yesterday, will start to ease today – but not enough to significantly lift temperatures.

Tuesday was quite cooler than previous days in a number of centres, with Dunedin, Invercargill, Gore, Ashburton, Darfield and Stewart Island all only making it to 13 degrees.

Christchurch, Kaikoura and Blenheim made it to just 15 along with Masterton while Wellington, Levin and Palmerston North made 16.

Today temperatures are likely to be only a degree or two warmer for those centres.

But the southerly has helped lift temperatures in other regions.  Southerlies in summer are particular warm in northern regions, such as Bay of Plenty – providing a similar effect as the Nor’Wester in Canterbury.

Yesterday Kawerau, near Whakatane, reached 27 degrees, while Whakatane itself made 26 and Tauranga made 25.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz

Homepage image / Noelle Bennett