Heat alerts are in place for Kerikeri, Whang\u0101rei, Whitianga, Tauranga, Whakat\u0101ne, Rotorua and Taup\u014d.<\/p>\n
Water offers quick relief from the midday summer heat. Photo \/ Jason Dorday<\/p>\n
Heat alerts are also in place for Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, Motueka, Blenheim, Kaik\u014dura, Christchurch and Timaru. <\/p>\n
A heat alert for Masterton is only in effect for the remainder of today. <\/p>\n
MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr said heat alerts are issued a day out from hot weather, and are based on each centre\u2019s usual summer highs and\/or how many days of hot weather are forecast.<\/p>\n
Heat set to crank up to 38C<\/p>\n
The hottest spell of the multi-day heat-streak is expected tomorrow, with Hastings forecast to fry on 38C and neighbouring Napier not much lower at 36C.<\/p>\n
Kerr said it is likely Napier will break its January temperature record tomorrow. <\/p>\n
The heat, combined with severe northwesterlies forecast for the lower North Island and much of the South Island tomorrow, has raised wildfire risks to extreme.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be dry in these northwesterlies, particularly in places like northern Wairarapa, Hawke\u2019s Bay, Gisborne. Those are the areas that we\u2019re focusing on for high risk of fires for tomorrow,\u201d Kerr said. <\/p>\n
He said people should be cautious when planning any barbecues in the next few days. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnything that\u2019s lit, sparks can fly and get driven quite a long way and start fires,\u201d Kerr said. <\/p>\n
People in areas under alert should check in on their most vulnerable, including babies and the elderly, and ensure pets are \u201cwell cared for\u201d with water and shade, MetService meteorologist Michael Pawley said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHeat alerts are more than just a typical hot summer\u2019s day … people can see some health effects from this sort of thing,\u201d Pawley said.<\/p>\n
Auckland\u2019s forecast of 29C for tomorrow is just 1C shy of its heat alert trigger, Pawley said.<\/p>\n
Multiple dead in water incidents <\/p>\n
Two people died in separate water tragedies in Canterbury and the Bay of Plenty this afternoon.<\/p>\n
One person remains missing, one person is in a critical condition, and one is in a serious condition after other, separate water incidents across the country. <\/p>\n
Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Glen Scanlon urged people to keep in mind the key messages around water safety at this busy time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we tend to see is so often those hot, calm days when people find themselves unexpectedly in more trouble because the conditions look so good,\u201d Scanlon said. <\/p>\n
He advised people to never swim or dive alone in any of New Zealand\u2019s water environments. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re at a patrolled beach, please swim between the flags. Take advantage of the great surf lifesavers and the job they do to keep you safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, if you\u2019re fishing from land or from a boat as well, wear a lifejacket. It\u2019s going to keep you really super safe. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019ve got your kids, always stay close to them,\u201d Scanlon said.<\/p>\n
Severe 130km\/h gales <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, severe gales gusting up to 130km\/h are expected across a large part of the South Island and the lower North Island, posing an extreme fire risk when combined with scorching temperatures. <\/p>\n
MetService has issued a warning for severe gale northwesterlies gusting to 120km\/h from early tomorrow morning through the day for Marlborough, Wellington, Wairarapa and Tararua District. <\/p>\n
The high country and foothills of Canterbury are also under a warning for severe gale northwesterlies gusting 130km\/h from 10pm tonight until 5pm tomorrow. <\/p>\n
Strong wind watches are also in place for eastern Canterbury and the lower South Island.<\/p>\n
Northland, Tair\u0101whiti, Hawke\u2019s Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Canterbury, Mid-South Canterbury and Otago faced \u201cspiking\u201d fire danger today and especially tomorrow, Fire and Emergency deputy chief executive of prevention Nick Pyatt said.<\/p>\n
\u201cExtreme caution [is] needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
There is an extreme risk of fire in northern and eastern parts of the country this weekend, Fire and Emergency says.<\/p>\n
In contrast, an orange heavy rain warning has been issued for the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and south of Arthur\u2019s Pass, and for Fiordland and parts of Westland from tonight, MetService said on its website.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s an elevated risk of thunderstorms, especially in the west of the South Island tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can expect that there might be some damage to trees and power lines … [and] with winds picking up, wildfires can get out of hand quite quickly,\u201d Pawley said. <\/p>\n
Further north, there are heavy rain watches across the Grey and Buller districts in the upper South Island tomorrow afternoon and evening. <\/p>\n