The New Zealander behind the PredictWeather. com website also believes that the warmest summer temperatures this year will arrive later than last year, in late August.

"I predict that winter will suddenly be over in the northern hemisphere by the full moon in mid-April when clear weather kicks in, following a wet period due to end on 13 April, " Ring told the Sunday Tribune. "The last week in April sees a return to some night showers, but the first half of May should bring settled weather."

Ring has been studying the moon, gathering information on patterns and recording observations and trends since 1975. He has written 15 books on his pioneering system of weather forecasting and his PredictWeather. comwebsite is popular all over the world.