The Department of Meteorology has forecast a transition to unsettled conditions over the coming days, with local showers expected on Friday and Saturday before temperatures begin a steady climb above the average for early February.
Thursday will start clear across most districts, though a gradual increase in mid-to-high-level cloud cover is anticipated throughout the afternoon. Daytime highs are expected to reach 19°C in the capital and coastal areas, while the higher mountainous regions will see temperatures peak at 12°C.
Winds on Thursday will remain light to moderate, blowing from the northeast to southeast at 3 to 4 on the Beaufort scale. Sea conditions are forecast to be slightly choppy, though increasing wind speeds overnight—reaching up to 5 Beaufort in windward areas—will lead to rougher seas, particularly along the southwestern coastline. Overnight lows will drop to 11°C inland, approximately 14°C on the coast, and a cooler 6°C in the mountains under a predominantly cloudy sky.
A shift in the weather pattern is expected on Friday and Saturday, as increased cloud cover brings the possibility of isolated rain and the potential for thunderstorms.
This instability will be accompanied by a slight dip in mercury on Friday. However, the Department of Meteorology indicates that the trend will reverse quickly; temperatures are set to rise gradually throughout the remainder of the weekend, eventually exceeding the typical norms for this time of year.
By Sunday, the atmosphere is forecast to stabilise with only partial cloud cover remaining.