Spring has arrived early in New Zealand in August in stark contrast to last year when snow storms cut power to thousands and closed roads and airports in the South Island.
Spring officially starts on September 1 although some don't observe it until the equinox around September 21 but WeatherWatch.co.nz head weather analyst Philip Duncan has declared August "spring like".
He says that while cold snaps are still expected during the coming weeks the general trend is for more weather systems coming in from the west.
Warmer nor'westers followed by cold sou'westers, were "the classic calling card of spring".
Still, a cold southerly will move up the southern and eastern coastlines of both islands on Tuesday, knocking highs back to single digits for some in the south.
"Some people think spring means warm weather but really the first half of spring is defined by strong hints of summer contrasted by regular reminders of winter," he said.
NZN
