With temperatures forecast to reach 17°C on Sunday and Monday, Oamaru and Dunedin appear to be the places to be over the long weekend.
MetService meteorologist Samkelo Magwala said a low pressure system would move on to the South Island tomorrow and slowly make its way up the country during Sunday and Monday.
‘‘That low is bringing in the warm air from the north, resulting in a high amount of moisture for some places, hence we have temperatures rising there.’’
Tomorrow was expected to be in line with recent temperatures across Otago and Southland, but on Sunday, the mercury could hit 17°C across much of the region.
Unfortunately, it was also expected to bring mainly showers to the southern regions, and it was likely that warning amounts of rain would fall in central Fiordland, the headwaters of Otago and Canterbury, and coastal Westland.
On Monday — the first day of meteorological winter — the warmer temperatures and showers were expected to remain across the region, except for Oamaru and Dunedin where it would be warm, dry and mainly sunny.
Mr Magwala said it was not unusual to get warmer temperatures in the high teens at this time of year, but he did urge southerners to make the most of it while they were here.
‘‘You should make the most of these temperatures because it all goes downhill from here — now that we’re getting into winter.’’
Temperatures would resume their normal decline next week, he said.
