Last year's summer may have seemed like a washout for many, but this year New Zealanders can look forward to a brighter outlook from November.
Brett Mullan, a principal scientist at NIWA, says temperatures will be either normal or slightly higher than average throughout the country this summer, with more southwesterly winds than usual.
He believes the likelihood of an El Nino is now much weaker than it was two months ago and if it does occur, it will not have a major influence on conditions.
Dr Mullan says Nelson, Marlborough and the North Island may experience a dry, early summer from November to January.
Above average temperatures are expected in the north and east of the North Island.
