A cool down is coming, especially for those in the very south and east of both islands, but for many areas the week ahead remains warmer than average or average.

Inland areas are least likely to feel the cool down, although on Friday the Central North Island will be cooler and eastern areas even more so.

The southerly change isn't major, but it will be enough to knock back humidity levels too later in the week for northerners, even if daytime highs remain two to seven degrees above normal for the first half of December.

Some areas will remain in the more extreme eight-plus degrees above normal group, especially at the start of the week on Monday and Tuesday.

By Wednesday these ‘hot spots' will be much more isolated around Hawke's Bay and some of the South Island mountains. This eight-plus degrees above normal zone will expand across more centres and regions in the South Island on Friday, while the North Island will be coolest.