Southern spring sizzle before wet weekend

There’s a chance the temperature is going to hit 30 degrees Celsius later this week in parts of the country.

Temperatures up to 15C warmer than average may be experienced in inland Otago, Southland and Canterbury tomorrow. On Friday, the warmth is expected to extend to northern Canterbury, Tasman and Marlborough.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) have dubbed it the #southernspringsizzle.

Niwa forecaster Ben Noll said the potential near-record temperatures would be caused by a warm air flow extending from Australia. A large area of high pressure to the northwest of New Zealand would help steer the warm air across the Tasman Sea.

‘‘There is a chance that the country will observe its first 30 degree temperature of the spring, which would be the first 30 degree temperature since April,’’ Noll said.

For the North Island, the forecast isn’t so good. Seasonably cool weather is expected tomorrow before warming up a bit over the lower part of the island on Friday.

As for Labour Weekend, pack your wet weather gear.

Niwa was expecting a front to move up the country on Saturday bringing cloud and showers.

On Monday, the chance for rain was greatest on the South Island’s West Coast, while showers could possibly persist over the west and northern North Island.