Canterbury and Marlborough are again sweltering in hot temperatures today with Christchurch, Ashburton and Timaru about 30C or higher.
Sam Kerr, left, and his brother, Nathan Kerr, at Sumner Beach in Christchurch yesterday. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
By late morning Blenheim was also feeling the heat with the temperature gauge reaching 34.4C.
Rangiora, which holds the New Zealand record for the hottest day reached 34C today.
Eastern parts of the North Island have also been warming up, and Gisborne was expected to reach a high of 35C this afternoon.
11am hottest spots
— MetService (@MetService) January 26, 2021
33.2°C at Timaru airport
32.4°C at Ashburton airport
32.3°C at Christchurch airport
Wairoa is not far off the 30°C mark.
Cool change due in the south tomorrow.
Check the current temperatures here: https://t.co/ziBZZ8yIbP ^Lewis pic.twitter.com/H375w4jIPd
But MetService meteorologist Tahlia Crabtree said the heat would not last.
"We've only got one more day of hot temperatures left, at least for the South Island. It's looking like temperatures will drop quite significantly tonight with a cold front moving up the country later tonight."
By mid-afternoon MetService said Timaru's high of 33.2C had faded sharply as cloud covered the city.
2⃣:3⃣0⃣ pm
— MetService (@MetService) January 27, 2021
Toasty temps across the eastern seaboard this afternoon, but cloud is already starting to strip towns of their heat. Timaru has dropped nearly 10°C from 33.2°C at 11am. Watch out next #christchurch https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^Tahlia pic.twitter.com/dU0YigW8Lm
It also pointed out the dramatic change in temperatures that was headed the South Island's way with tomorrow's high in Christchurch under half the 37C the city sweltered under last night.
Cold front & southerlies set to drop maximum temperatures by 20°C.
— MetService (@MetService) January 26, 2021
Christchurch managed to make 37C Tuesday evening but will struggle to make 17C Thursday afternoon.
Cooler temperatures expected nationwide on Friday.
Get your local forecast at https://t.co/hnwmGxU1gR ^Lewis pic.twitter.com/Gz1yCPFzSm
Yesterday the mercury hit 37.5C at Ashburton Airport, 34.7C at Cooptown on Banks Peninsula and 33.7C in Methven as Canterbury experienced its hottest day of the summer.
Heat welcomed by some farmers
Mt Somers arable farmer David Clark said the hot weather had been amazing.
"For arable farmers a run of hot, norwester weather with high temperatures is great for getting harvesting done, it's just what was needed," Clark said.
"It's almost a reflection of Canterbury of old - hot dry days."
It had been a busy few days but production had been high, he said.
"There will be a lot of happy arable farmers around that's for sure, the hot weather brings the seed down to moisture and allows the crop to run through the combine and separate out."
However, high temperatures and working out in the sun all day made for dangerous working conditions, he said.
"We are just making sure everyone is staying hydrated and having more breaks in the shade when they can, and we've been very conscience of fire.
"Everyone's been very vigilant and fortunately there have been no fires."
