Our scorching sea: Marine heatwave unfolding as hot temperatures continue

Monday, 4 December 2017

The warm weather is predicted to continue for the rest of the week as a ridge of high pressure sits over the country.

The first weekend of summer was marked by scorching temperatures nationwide, and Monday is expected to be even hotter.

Hanmer Springs was the hottest place in the country on Sunday at 31 degrees Celsius, according to MetService.

It's not just air temperatures that have been hot. According to NIWA's Ben Noll, ocean temperatures around New Zealand have been on average 2C warmer than usual - and up to 6C warmer off the West Coast. Water around the country has been warmer than average for more than a month now.

Max Darger, 9, makes a speedy exit from the water. Temperatures hit 28 degrees Celsius on in Christchurch on Sunday - but the hottest place in the country was Hanmer Springs, where it reached 31C.

A very impressive marine heatwave is unfolding near the east coast of #Australia, across the Tasman Sea, and in New Zealand coastal waters … average anomaly is +1.98°C and max anomaly is a gaudy +6.16°C off NZ's West Coast. pic.twitter.com/shDPuEcnn1

— Ben Noll (@BenNollWeather) December 1, 2017

MetService Meteorologist Ciaran Doolin said: 'It's good news for the working week. The (high pressure ridge across the country) is set to persist until Friday, which means a continuation of warm, settled weather.'

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While a slow-moving front was expected to bring rain to the far south and Fiordland on Monday and Tuesday, 'Long story short, sun should be the prevailing condition across much of the country,' Doolin said.

During Friday the ridge is expected to start moving east of the country as a northwesterly flow builds over the South Island, according to MetService. Rain, with some heavy falls in the west, spreads onto the far south and southern Westland.

Even hotter day tomorrow. Make sure to keep sunscreen handy! ^CD pic.twitter.com/NkdmjUod2Z

— MetService (@MetService) December 3, 2017

MetService also said nearly 40,000 lightning strikes were recorded last week.

Conditions in the coming week were much less favourable for thunder storm development, it said. None were expected for Monday.

The highest recorded temperature around Aotearoa today was 31°C measured at Hanmer Springs, while the lowest maximum temperature was 20°C at Waiouru. ^AB pic.twitter.com/1F9oeygyjU

— MetService (@MetService) December 3, 2017