NZ heatwave: Temperatures to break 30s on Thursday

Wednesday, 30 January 2019

Flocking to the beach? New Zealand's heatwave isn't over yet! (File photo)

The heatwave in place since the weekend is expected to peak on Thursday, Niwa Weather says.

It is picking a top temperature of 37 degrees Celsius in North Canterbury, and 34C in Wairarapa.

The pattern is expected to be disrupted on Friday as a front moves up the South Island. MetService is warning that ahead of the front northwesterlies could get to severe gale strength in exposed areas on Friday.

Southerlies following the front could also briefly get to severe gale strength, particularly in Canterbury and about the Kaikōura Coast.

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But for Thursday the heat is still going strong, with the east coast of the South Island likely to bear the brunt of the hot weather.

We're used to the warm temperatures of a classic Kiwi summer, but this week's heatwave (a high pressure system moving across the country) has brought temperatures into the mid 30s in some places.

Niwa Weather reported the warmest temperature it recorded on Wednesday was 36.1C at Cheviot in North Canterbury. That was the warmest temperature recorded so far in New Zealand this summer, and the town's equal-4th warmest temperature, Niwa said.

It also recorded 34.5C in Waiau, 34C in Medbury and 33.2C at its weather station in Masterton

MetService reported Pukaki (Mt Cook) reached 34.8C on Wednesday. The Hurunui area was 34.4C, and Culverden 33.8C, while the North Island saw temperatures reach 32.7C in Masterton and 31.8C in Taumarunui.

MetService meteorologist Melissa Oosterwijk said we can expect much the same for Thursday. 'There are going to be a number of places to break 30 again.'

Parts of the South Island, particularly along the east coast, were 'looking pretty hot'.

Blenheim and Ashburton were expected to reach temperatures around 32C. Gore and Invercargill can also expect slightly warmer than average weather, with a high of 29C.

And in the North Island, Masterton residents can again expect temperatures to rise to about 33 degrees, and 32 degrees is forecast in Taumarunui.

'It's going to be warm everywhere,' Oosterwijk said.

However, a cooler change of weather is expected to move up the country on Friday and Saturday, which will be noticeable especially for people in the South Island.

The expected effect of Friday's front can be seen in Christchurch, which MetService is forecasting could get up to 30C before the front arrives around mid-afternoon Friday, bringing rain and dropping temperatures to 17C by 4pm and to 11C overnight.