The South Island is again dealing with a cold southerly keeping temperatures at very low levels for what should be one of the hottest weeks of the year.

This hour Christchurch is on just 15 degrees with Timaru and Dunedin only on 13.  Invercargill has 14 degrees and Akaroa on Banks Peninsula has just 12.

Wellington is only on 18 degrees.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says the weather over the next few days will be unsettled with temperatures high for some and fairly low for others.  “Today’s southerly is producing utterly miserable weather for coastal parts of the South Island.  For those in Christchurch this would have to be one of the worst summers they’ve had in many, many, years”.

Mr Duncan says easterlies and southerlies blowing cooler air off the ocean is responsible for the lower temperatures.  “Once you get further inland, such as Central Otago, you see decent summer temperatures”.

Tonight conditions are going to be cold for many with Invercargill predicted to drop to just 7 degrees.

“There is some good news for South Islanders, the first nor’wester of the year is about to kick in this weekend and again next week and that should see temperatures spiking in the late 20s and even early 30s inland”.

The nor’westers will also bring hot weather back to Hawkes Bay and Gisborne with highs around 30 degrees.