Hot days and less rainfall than usual are on the cards for Wānaka’s summer - but not until next month, according to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).

NIWA meteorologist Seth Carrier told the Wānaka App a move to the La Niña weather pattern will mean dry conditions for the lower South Island.

“What we’re likely to see as the summer progresses is we’re into a La Niña direction, that tends to mean we get more rainfall in the top of the North and South Island, but we tend to try to get dryer conditions in the west coast and lower South Island,” he said.

As for this weekend, Seth said this Saturday (December 28) could potentially be “pretty warm”, but that is likely to be short-lived.

A possible front on Saturday (December 28) may bring showers and a thunderstorm which could continue into Sunday.

“Potentially early next week, including New Year’s Eve, could be looking at pretty good weather around that time,” he said.

But, he said, New Year’s Eve temperatures might be “a little bit cooler than average for that time of the year and New Year’s Day [could be] average or a little bit cooler than average”.

“Things are a little bit up in the air in early January,” he added, with unsettled weather and showers expected.

But in the second half of January and later into February Wānaka is likely to have a decreased chance of rainfall, Seth said.

“It doesn’t mean no rainfall at all - but less rainfall than usual.”

El Niño and La Niña (collectively known as El Niño-Southern Oscillation) have a significant impact on New Zealand’s climate, but they account for less than 25 percent of the year-to year variance in seasonal rainfall and temperature at most locations. 

PHOTO: Wānaka App