MetService National weather: December 31st - January 2nd
A rising New Year sun will greet Kiwis tomorrow, ringing in a hot start to 2022.
With Auckland and swatches of the upper North Island moving to the orange setting of the Covid-19 framework at midnight last night, allowing for large crowds to gather in time for New Year's Evecelebrations, the weather outlook for most of New Zealand looks fit for outdoor parties.
Revellers gearing up for festivals, gigs, beach parties and BBQs tonight can generally expect a warm, bright one, MetService forecasters say.
The only places that might require a light jacket will be around Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, inland Wairarapa, and western and southern parts of the South Island, particularly around lower Westland, Fiordland, and coastal Southland.
"Most places should be quite dry tonight so thankfully for anybody who is expecting to celebrate New Year's Eve outdoors, things shouldn't be hampered too much," said MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane.
We can't really complain about the weather for the last day of 2021 🎆
Holiday hotspots around Bay of Plenty are really heating up and Kiwis are being urged to drink plenty of water and stay out of the sun where possible, with the temperatures touching 30C.
Gisborne and Mt Hikurangi are recognised as the first points on the New Zealand mainland to greet the morning sun and will bring in the New Year before anyone else in New Zealand – and most of the world.
