October could see weather "highs and lows all over the place" with the middle of spring expected to bring more unstable conditions, a forecaster warns.
WeatherWatch's climate outlook predicts next month will be milder and drier than average - but large lows will continue to bring rain to some areas.
The first week of October will kick off "with chaos - with highs and lows all over the place".
"In fact, a high-pressure zone will extend well south of NZ to almost reach Antarctica - ensuring the Antarctic ice shelf in the NZ/Australia area will have a surge of warmer than usual weather in the first week of October," WeatherWatch said in a statement.
Week two will see "a bit more order in the weather pattern" as high pressure leaves New Zealand.
As that high pressure departs New Zealand, it will bring back a surge of warm northwest winds.
The third week of October will be much the same as week two.
"Week 3 looks similar to the start of week 2, with more high pressure around the Tasman Sea, more northwesters into the South Island and perhaps some departing wet weather from the North Island," WeatherWatch said.
"The month of October is likely to see more days with milder than average winds for NZ and rainfall should be about normal to drier than normal for many."
