Although September 1st was the first day of Spring, it felt more like Winter that day. However, we have had some warmer weather now. In addition, the days are getting longer. September 23rd is the Equinox when day and night are the same length – 12 hours each.
Because New Zealand is a long country, from 34 degrees to 47 degrees latitude, the weather is very different from north to south – warm in the north and cold in the south. The prevailing wind and the central mountains also affect the weather so the west is usually wetter than the east. However, all over the country, there are signs of Spring.
The most obvious signs of Spring are the Spring bulbs like daffodils and the blossom trees. Nelson is holding a Cherry Blossom Festival next weekend and Alexandra’s Cherry Blossom Festival is the following weekend. Alexandra is in Central Otago which has a very cold Winter each year but the compensation is a wonderful Spring.
Spring, however, is famous for unreliable weather – warm one day and cold the next so don’t be surprised by a change in the weather.
Vocabulary
• prevailing wind – the usual wind direction which is westerly
• compensation – something good after something bad (often money. Think of ACC – accident compensation)
• unreliable – you cannot rely on it being the same; changeable