Several wet days are in store for much of New Zealand’s western and northern regions as a sluggish low drifts in from the Tasman Sea.  The Radio Network’s head weather analyst Philip Duncan says warm and wet conditions are in store for a number of regions before a wintry snap arrives early next week.  “Bands of rain will move across northern and western areas of the North Island during today and will affect most places for a time in the 24 to 48 hours afterwards”.

Mr Duncan says humidity will be extremely high in the north.  “Places like Auckland will have humidity between 90 and 100% over the coming days”. 

Temperatures, while not too high during the day, are expected to be relatively high overnight compared to last week.  “Overnight lows in a number of regions will be double figures or at least near that.  Definitely a few frost free days ahead”.

But eastern areas aren’t likely to see too much rain from the system.  Overnight lows will also remain much closer to zero along the South Island’s east coast.

Mr Duncan says computer models suggest a deepening low south of the New Zealand early next week might bring snow to Central Otago and another bitterly cold southerly over the country.  “It’s easy to forget it but we’re in the depths of winter at the moment so the risk of more snow and below zero wind chills are highly likely for the next few weeks”.

“At this stage next week is looking significantly colder than this week for much of the country”.