Make the most of the mid-winter sun

Much of the country can look forward to dry and settled conditions for the second week of the school holidays, as a large high dominates the weather.

MetService spokesperson Daniel Corbett said it should be possible to get outdoors for much of the week, even though it was mid-winter.

That was always a bonus in the school holidays. People should just be sure to wrap up warm, he said.

Little rain was expected for most of the country until late in the week.

"From about Thursday, strengthening northwesterlies over the South Island should bring rain to the West Coast. We're expecting Friday to be a windy day on the east coast of the South Island and around central New Zealand," Corbett said.

The strengthening northwesterlies had an upside, with daytime highs in eastern areas expected to reach the mid-teens on Thursday or Friday.

The area from Taranaki to Wellington also runs some risk of cloud and patchy drizzle on Thursday and Friday.

- © Fairfax NZ News