30-Aug-2005
Winter Ending On A High
The month of September marks the start of spring and this year, as August ends, a large high pressure system is slowly
crossing central New Zealand. This is bringing sunny spring-like conditions to see off winter.
"We have had more than our normal share of highs over the past two months," commented MetService Weather Ambassador, Bob
McDavitt. "This has led to some areas having a winter drought, especially around Auckland and Kapiti and between
Marlborough and Otago. This has been good for the construction industry and not so good for grass-growth."
McDavitt went on to say that this week's high is different. "It has been further south than normal, taking a track
across the Australian Bight and then onto central New Zealand.
This is like that track of a November or December high, and not all of our spring highs will behave like it. The typical
changing conditions of spring will soon be apparent with a cold front reaching the southwest of the South Island on
Thursday and Friday, and a larger rain-bearing trough forecast to arrive over New Zealand by the middle of next week."
ENDS