Just ten days out from the start of Winter, Maitland and the Hunter continue to experience Spring-like conditions with balmy days and cooler evenings.
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Temperatures for the remainder of the week and across the weekend will remain between 22 and 26 degrees - possibly putting May into the record books as one of the warmest Autumn months on record.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the Winter climate outlook, issued on May 16, shows large parts of Australia are likely to be drier than average and warmer than average Winter days are likely for most of Australia.
Much of the east and west of the country has a high chance (greater than 80%) of having warmer winter days.
The bureau's climate model indicates that atmospheric pressures over much of southern and eastern Australia is likely to be higher than normal, with this signal strongest in June. This increases the chance of drier and warmer than average weather over much of southern and eastern Australia, and may keep cold fronts further to the south than normal.
The bureau's six-day Maitland forecast is: Wednesday 11 to 26, Thursday 11 to 24, Friday and Saturday 9 to 25, Sunday 10 to 26 and Monday 9 to 22.
The long and warm dry spell means Hunter Water will now draw from Tomago Sandbeds from Monday, June 3 to provide additional security for the region's dams, which have fallen to their lowest levels in 13 years.
The sandbeds are a safe, reliable back-up water supply that can provide 20 per cent of the Lower Hunter's drinking water during times of shortfall. During dry periods it is crucial Hunter Water starts drawing water from the sandbeds, because if left too long, the water won't be there later in a drought.
