The next three months should see normal rainfall across almost the whole the country and with El Ni\u00f1o now in effect, a lower likelihood of tropical moisture plumes.<\/p>\n
It comes after soggy first half of the year including a\u00a0May that saw rainfall at 149 percent of normal for many regions across the nation<\/a>.<\/p>\n The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) says the country is now experiencing\u00a0El Ni\u00f1o<\/a>\u00a0and it is expected to deliver an average amount of rainfall for the eastern regions of the North Island over winter.<\/p>\n Climate scientists have been expecting the country would move away from La Ni\u00f1a’s warm and wet weather to\u00a0El Ni\u00f1o with chillier southwesterly winds but a more normal rainfall pattern<\/a>.<\/p>\n NIWA has now released its seasonal climate outlook for the next three months.<\/p>\n “The developing El Ni\u00f1o is expected to result in a lower likelihood of tropical moisture plumes, such as those that frequently affected the country during the first half of this year,” the report said.<\/p>\n The report forecast that along the North Island’s east coast – which has been saturated in many parts in the last few months – there will be a near normal amount of rain.<\/p>\n Those in the South Island’s west can expect near or above normal rainfall while it will be the average amount or possibly less for the rest of the country.<\/p>\n Temperatures are also likely to be in the near average or above average range for the entire country.<\/p>\n