It's going to be hot - very hot

A grass fire that raged at Bridge Pa at the weekend was made worse by dry conditions. Photo / Duncan Brown

We're in for a scorcher today, with temperatures set to reach 31C.

But don't despair - relief is on the way, with rain and cooler temperatures expected later this week.

The Fire Service battled an extensive grass fire in Bridge Pa at the weekend, which was made worse by dry conditions.

Today is expected to be fine with northwesterly winds and a sweltering high of 31C, MetService says, but winds are forecast to turn southerly, bringing showers overnight.

The next couple of days would be 10C cooler, with daytime highs of 21C, it said.

Early rain was expected tomorrow, easing to showers.

Wednesday would be cloudy with winds turning east.

A grass fire raged at a lifestyle block in Stock Rd, Bridge Pa, on Saturday afternoon, after a man felled a tree that hit power lines.

A Fire Service spokesman said it took four fire crews from Hastings, Napier and Havelock North about two hours to fully extinguish the blaze. At its height it covered a 300m by 400m area.

"It spread very quickly, because it was started in multiple places."

No one was injured and the fire did not threaten buildings. "We've had a few [grass fires] lately, but the restricted fire season helps."