4 Jan 2022

High temperatures expected to continue across North Island

2:32 pm on 4 January 2022

Hot weather is showing no signs of letting up in the North Island today, with yesterday's hottest places in for another scorcher.

Happy kids playing on the beach at the day time - weather, heat, hot, summer, sun

Photo: 123rf

The hottest place in the country yesterday was Kawerau at 33C, while Lower Hutt and Taumaranui were second, both hitting 30.3C.

Blenheim reached 30.2 degrees yesterday and Hamilton is set to hit the 30s today.

MetService meteorologist Tuporo Marsters said they would be in for more of the same, or even hotter.

"I think Kawerau will go again in the 30 pluses, Taumarunui will be going for 33 degrees."

Lower Hutt is expected to hit 30 degrees.

However, MetService meteorologist Kyle Lee said a southerly moving up the country would send temperatures back down.

"It's gradually making its way up the country. From tomorrow, you'll see that the South Island temperatures are going to be a little bit more towards average.

"A lot of places today [in the South Island] aren't very exceptional but it's more sort of on Thursday that you see the effects of the [southerly change] on the South Island."

Invercargill has an expected high of 22C, when it hit 32C just two days ago.

Lee said Ashburton and Timaru would drop to about 15 degrees on Thursday.

In the last few days the MetService has been issuing heat alerts for some parts of the country and encouraging people to drink plenty of water, seek some shade and keep an eye on those who are vulnerable to the heat.

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