MetService forecast: Heat returns as NZ set for one of summer’s warmest, driest weeks

A spell of golden weather is finally on the way for Kiwis as one of this summer’s warmest and driest weeks arrives and pushes temperatures past 30C.

After heavy rain, wind and thunderstorms upended many people’s plans of beach-filled New Year’s breaks, the first full week of January is looking calmer as a high-pressure system stretches over both islands.

MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane told the Herald the wild weather that battered New Zealand over the past week has since moved eastwards away from the country.

“This means things are a lot more settled, warmer, and drier ... there will still be some showers around, but nothing as severe as what we had over the weekend,” she said.

“Eastern parts of the country in particular are in for a warm week.

“This is especially true towards the end of the week, where parts of Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough may reach the 30s on Friday.”

Temperatures are forecast to reach up to 34C this weekend as summer weather returns to large swathes of the country. Photo / Alex Burton

Hastings, Napier and Blenheim are shaping up to be among the warmest spots, while Marlborough, Wellington, Wairarapa and coastal Hawke’s Bay are forecast to see the least rain.

On Friday, the mercury is predicted to reach 28C in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, 29C in Gisborne, 31C in Napier, 32C in Blenheim, and 33C in Hastings. By Sunday the temperature is set to hit a blistering 34C in Hawke’s Bay.

“While it won’t be completely dry, for some areas this is shaping up to be one of the warmer and drier weeks of summer so far,” Makgabutlane said.

“However, the second week of December may rival this week, especially for central parts of the country, which was a stretch of warm and dry weather as well.”

While precipitation is expected in the South Island’s far-flung southern regions from Wednesday, it’s not until a new weather system arrives on Saturday that the rain and winds return in force.

Fiordland, Clutha, Dunedin and parts of Southland will likely be the wettest regions over the week.

This system is projected to move northwards, eventually hitting the North Island early next week.

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