Heating up nicely for 3-day break

Hastings tops the hot spots while City of Sails can expect plenty of sunshine over Anniversary Weekend

Those looking forward to a long weekend will be studying the forecast to chase the sun. The three days of Auckland Anniversary Weekend are observed from Northland down to some parts of the Manawatu-Whanganui and Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne regions.

Several North Island centres look like good places to be if you’re wanting to head to the beach.

Here are the top five hot spots, plus a few special mentions.

1 Hastings

Those escaping to the Hawke’s Bay town are in for a treat. Hastings is expected to have the hottest temperature in the country on Sunday with 31C, according to MetService predictions.

Conditions that day are described as fine with winds turning northwesterly.

Temperatures of 25C and 27C are expected on the days either side.

2 Gisborne

The East Coast town is almost as hot as Hastings, with 29C on Sunday.

Temperatures of 25C and 27C are expected on the days either side.

Conditions are described as fine with little wind.

3 Napier

Sunday and Monday in Napier look to be scorchers, with highs of 28C expected in the East Coast town. Saturday’s not bad either, with a high of 24C and northeasterlies developing.

4 Blenheim

If holidaymakers can get to the South Island this weekend, Blenheim is the place to be. A high of 28C is expected on Sunday, and temperatures of 25C on the days either side. Conditions are described as fine with northwesterlies.

5 Tauranga and Whangarei

The two cities tie for fifth place with each due to receive a high of 27C on Monday. In Tauranga, highs of 26C are expected on Saturday and Sunday.

The MetService describes Saturday as fine, with clouds at night, light winds and sea breezes.

Sunday is fine with little wind and Monday fine with southwesterlies.

And the Northland city is expected to be mainly fine with light winds and afternoon sea breezes. Temperatures could reach up to 26C on Saturday and Sunday and 27C on Monday.

Further north, in Kerikeri, it’s expected to reach 27C on the Sunday and 27C in Paihia.

Special mentions

Auckland gets a special mention because it’s the anniversary namesake but it can’t compete with the regions.

But it is looking good for the City of Sails, with fine conditions and warm temperatures.

A large front late yesterday was due to bring heavy rain and strong winds to some areas late last night and this morning.

But the forecasts for tomorrow and over the weekend predict lots of sunshine for Auckland, MetService meteorologist Claire Flynn said.

“By the time it gets to Auckland, we’re just thinking it’ll bring a few showers [this evening] and that’ll be all you really get from that front.”

Temperature highs in Auckland will be around the 22C and 23C mark for the next few days.

Saturday, Sunday and the main anniversary day on Monday are all forecast to be fine with light winds, with southwesterlies due early next week.

Those escaping to the Coromandel Peninsula can expect highs of 26C and 25C over the three days in Whitianga.

Conditions are described as fine with light winds.

Thames is expected to see a high of 26C on the Saturday and Sunday.