Cooler Weather & Calm Conditions: Next Week’s Forecast

Aucklanders can expect a reprieve from last week’s devastating storms, with cooler temperatures and a significantly reduced risk of disruptive weather arriving this week, according to MetService.

Calmer Skies Ahead for New Zealand

After a tumultuous week, a period of more settled weather is forecast for much of the country.

• The final week of January begins with showers, particularly in the North Island.
• High pressure will build midweek, bringing more stable conditions.
• Temperatures will initially remain cool before rising again in most areas.
• Canterbury will experience significant temperature swings.

The last week of January is set to start with a cool and showery pattern, but conditions are expected to improve as high pressure develops from midweek, especially across the North Island. What does this mean for your plans? A shift towards calmer weather is on the horizon.

Auckland Anniversary Day Outlook

For those in the North Island celebrating Auckland Anniversary Day, showers are expected to ease throughout Monday afternoon and clear by Tuesday afternoon. Bay of Plenty and Gisborne are anticipating mostly fine conditions, while residents in Napier and Hastings should be prepared for possible thunderstorms as a trough moves along the East Coast.

Regional Forecasts

From Horowhenua to Wellington, scattered showers and cloudy periods are predicted before clearing on Tuesday. Most of the South Island can anticipate scattered showers on Monday, with the potential for heavier, thundery downpours in higher elevations.

Meteorologist Michael Pawley noted that the unsettled weather is expected to subside as the week progresses, with showers clearing in the afternoon and evening for most locations.

“Showers could be heavy and thundery about the inland ranges of the North Island and upper South Island on Tuesday afternoon as the ground heats up, setting up daytime convection,” Pawley said.

Temperature Trends

Temperatures across the North Island will remain cooler early in the week before climbing back into the mid-20s Celsius as southwesterly winds diminish. Further south, Canterbury will experience notable temperature fluctuations. Ashburton and Timaru are forecast to reach a maximum of just 16°C on Tuesday.

However, strengthening northwesterly winds from Wednesday are expected to push temperatures up to 27°C in Ashburton and Christchurch on Wednesday. A cold front is also forecast to bring rain to the West Coast.

Q: What’s the overall weather outlook for New Zealand this week?

A: A transition to cooler and calmer conditions is expected after last week’s severe weather, with high pressure building midweek and temperatures gradually rising in most areas, though Canterbury will see significant swings.