Wānaka has just experienced its third-warmest autumn on record, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) says.

Nationally, it was the fifth-warmest autumn recorded with 47 locations observing record or near-record high autumn mean temperatures.

In Wānaka, the mean air temperature was 12.4 degrees over autumn.

This was 1.5 degrees higher than normal, based on when records began here, in 1955.

Queenstown had its second warmest autumn at a mean of 12.6 degrees, two degrees higher than normal.

Over in Cromwell, the township experienced one of its warmest autumn days on record, at 31.6 degrees on March 2.

NIWA is expecting the relatively warm weather to continue into winter.

A warmer than average winter, with above or normal rainfall, is forecast for the Southern Lakes.

NIWA principal forecasting scientist Chris Brandolino said the Southern Lakes will still have cold snaps and frosts - like the one we are experiencing currently - but they will be less frequent than normal. 

Read more: Warmer winter, fewer cold snaps - NIWA outlook

PHOTO: Wānaka App