Blistering heat will begin scorching New Zealand on Saturday, in what could be a sign of a sweltering summer to come.
Near record-breaking temperatures exceeding 30C are forecast to boil eastern parts of the country this coming weekend and early next week as a puff of hot air blows over from Australia.
- 'Hot weekend scorcher' expected, 30C highs possible
- Tropical low to bring 'severe weather' next week
- Warnings for Auckland as winds up to 100km/h expected
NIWA forecaster Chris Brandolino told The AM Show that the heat won't likely beat the November record - which is in the mid-30s - but it's still incredible such high temperatures could roast the country so early in the month.
"The warmest temperatures in November… have all occurred mid-to-late November," Brandolino said.
"The fact that [the warm temperatures are] happening on the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth of November, that's impressive.
"We are getting hot air from our Aussie friends. It has been quite warm, quite dry across Australia and the winds are going to align, so it is going to drag some of that hot air, a puff of hot air coming from Australia."
Eastern areas will be hit the hardest by the balmy heat, with the east of the South Island expected to feel the burn over the weekend.
"For the east of the South Island, it will be warm, if not hot, tomorrow, I think the heat peaks on Sunday for the east of the South Island where temperatures for many areas will approach 30C and there will be a few areas that exceed 30C," Brandolino told The AM Show.
Centres like eastern Canterbury, Christchurch and Marlborough will be the hottest, Brandolino says.
Further north, it will get sultry on Monday and Tuesday with the Hawke's Bay and Bay of Plenty also expected to hit 30C and beyond.
Western areas of New Zealand, unfortunately, won't feel the same level of heat, but it will still be warm.
Weatherwatch forecasts similar warm days next week, with Auckland believed to be in the high 20s every day.
"Next week looks much warmer weather-wise around most of New Zealand. While we do have a brief cool down around Tuesday and Wednesday (especially the South Island) the general airflow will be warmer than average," the weather forecaster said on Friday.
Brandolino said the tropical weather will continue for the next three months.
"Quite frankly, this is something we may see repeated again later next week, into the new weekend. Next weekend there is another surge of warmth comes off the Australian continent into our way," he told The AM Show.
"That is our kind of thinking for the next three months. We think there will be a lean towards an average or above-average temperatures for much of New Zealand."
But he did warn that there were a few "large doses" of rain forecast in November that could bring flooding, especially to western parts of the country.
Newshub.
