This episode featured as part of the Weather segment in partnership with HawkEye Pro by Ravensdown.

Westerly patterns return about 20 to 24 August, ushering in an El Niño-shaped spring, Blue Sky Weather’s Tony Trewinnard says.

He says the pattern is now locked in.

“There is an El Niño, it’s already here now,” he says.

The current cold snap is clearing, leaving hard frosts through the coldest weeks of the winter.

“Most of the country is showing a dry signal.”

The eastern and northern regions face the least rain, while the West Coast and Southland stay wetter.

Eleven of 13 regions finished the past six weeks 24 to 37mm short of normal rain. He says the late-August change marks the beginning of spring.

This episode featured as part of the Weather segment in partnership with HawkEye Pro by Ravensdown. Visit here for more information.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.