Feeling chilly? Have your winter woollies on? Fear not, the cold won't last.
Walkers brave the wet, windy Wellington waterfront. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Winter officially kicked off yesterday with cooler temperatures around the country, but scientists are predicting it will be a warmer one than usual.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) has released its outlook for June to August.
It says temperatures are very likely to be above average in all regions, but frosts and cold snaps will occur in cooler locations.
NIWA said it would probably rain more than usual in the north and west of the North Island, and the west of the South Island.
Sea surface temperatures are tipped to be above normal, particularly to the west of the country.
NIWA said ocean-atmosphere conditions in the tropical Pacific had returned to near normal, after an El Niño event quickly came to an end.
Waters surrounding New Zealand remained exceptionally warm, and it predicted the conditions would continue through to August.
