“This is especially true towards the end of the week, where parts of Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough may reach the 30s on Friday.”
Temperatures are forecast to reach up to 34C this weekend as summer weather returns to large swathes of the country. Photo / Alex Burton
Hastings, Napier and Blenheim are shaping up to be among the warmest spots, while Marlborough, Wellington, Wairarapa and coastal Hawke’s Bay are forecast to see the least rain.
On Friday, the mercury is predicted to reach 28C in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui, 29C in Gisborne, 31C in Napier, 32C in Blenheim, and 33C in Hastings. By Sunday the temperature is set to hit a blistering 34C in Hawke’s Bay.
“While it won’t be completely dry, for some areas this is shaping up to be one of the warmer and drier weeks of summer so far,” Makgabutlane said.
“However, the second week of December may rival this week, especially for central parts of the country, which was a stretch of warm and dry weather as well.”
While precipitation is expected in the South Island’s far-flung southern regions from Wednesday, it’s not until a new weather system arrives on Saturday that the rain and winds return in force.
Fiordland, Clutha, Dunedin and parts of Southland will likely be the wettest regions over the week.
This system is projected to move northwards, eventually hitting the North Island early next week.
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