The heat is on for the weekend

More muggy nights ahead before rain in north, cooler spell in south

Benjamin Plummer

The hot and muggy weather will continue for much of New Zealand this week before rain batters the North Island early next week.

The eastern South Island scorched on Thursday, three locations reaching 33C.

MetService says the sweltering heat will stick around through the weekend before cool winds take over the South Island and heavy rain strikes affect the north.

“A weak cold front” brought a change to the South Island yesterday, MetService meteorologist Clare O’Connor said.

The ridge over the South Island would be short-lived, and another warm, moist northwesterly flow develops this morning and travels up the country.

O’Connor said temperatures would pick up over the weekend, and some areas were likely to reach 33C.

“Temperatures are forecast to rise once more in the east of the South Island, but the east of the North Island will feel it too this time. Models are currently indicating that Hastings could reach 33C on Sunday,” O’Connor said.

MetService meteorologist John Law said the overnight temperatures will be noticeable.

“Overnight on Saturday the low will be 18C for Auckland and overnight on Sunday 20C will be the minimum temperature”.

“There will be some very warm nights coming,” Law said.

Heat alerts will be issued for locations reaching their highest temperatures, MetService said.

But that will change come Monday as MetService forecasts wet weather to batter some regions next week.

“It’s looking like a much wetter start to the week for the North Island compared to what we have previously seen,” Law said.

Heavy falls are predicted by Monday night as a cloud of wet weather transfers up the country over the weekend and over the North Island on Monday.

“Despite the rain it will still be pretty warm and humid,” Law said.

A drastic change in temperature will be felt across the South Island to start the week, however.

Highs on Monday and Tuesday will be around 17C, down from the scorching heat of the early 30Cs this week.

“After seeing those temperatures I’m sure they’ll be looking forward to weather a little more comfortable,” Law said.