Summer is just around the corner but the beach weather has come early with parts of New Zealand likely to reach nearly 30 degrees on Wednesday - and in some places, it will feel even hotter.
WeatherWatch said a tropical northerly is boosting temperatures across New Zealand with a warm night on the way for many following what will be a hot Wednesday.
Inland parts of Southland, Otago, Canterbury and Hawke's Bay will see maximum temperatures over eight degrees above normal on Wednesday while many other regions will be four to eight degrees above normal.
"For those with sunny weather, a number of regions will be in the low to mid-20s today with daytime highs on Wednesday afternoon pushing into the late 20s (maybe 30C in some isolated pockets) for those in the North Island's east, like Hawke's Bay. Waikato is also likely to make it into the late 20s," WeatherWatch said.
"Hamilton has a high of 25C in the shade today but it may go a few degrees higher. The Humidex/Feels like temperature will likely be over 30C."
Kiwis in some places might want to keep the air conditioner on or fan handy with WeatherWatch saying a combination of tropical winds coupled with cloudy areas could see some places not drop below 17C overnight.
"Napier and Auckland are both likely candidates with Whangarei, Tauranga and Hamilton in the mid-teens," WeatherWatch said.
But it'll be slightly cooler on Thursday as a low-pressure zone near the lower South Island coupled with a Tasman Sea west to north-west wind will drop the temperatures.
"But for most regions, it will still be a few degrees warmer than normal for this time of year," WeatherWatch said.
It isn't beach weather for all of New Zealand with the West Coast of the South Island getting torrential rain over the next couple of days due to tropical airflow.
"Tropical air, which is moisture laden, will be funnelled into the West Coast today. Hokitika township has 120mm forecast while the ranges nearby could receive over three or four times that, with 300 to 550m according to MetService. Much of this will fall today only," WeatherWatch said.
"This heavy rain event eases on Thursday as the tropical airflow moves northwards and eastwards."
MetService has issued an orange heavy rain warning for Tasman west of Motueka, Buller, Westland and the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and south of Arthurs Pass.
MetService warns these areas could see between 150mm to 450mm with the warnings in place until Thursday morning.
"Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous," MetService said.
A strong wind watch is also in place for the Canterbury High Country, which could see "severe gale north to northwesterlies gusting 130 to 140 km/h in exposed places".
