Weather: Hot temperatures continue in the Bay of Plenty but the weekend brings cooler conditions

The hot weather continues in the region today after Tauranga reached its highest temperature of the year yesterday.

After a warm night where temperatures didn’t get below 20C, Tauranga is forecast to hit 29C after yesterday recording 30.4C MetService meteorologist, Ngaire Wotherspoon said.

Some cloudy periods and the chance of a shower were possible for the city this evening.

Whakatāne also has a forecast high of 29C today with Rotorua due to hit 27C.

“Unfortunately there isn’t a temperature forecast for Kawerau, but right now they are at 25C, and I suspect they will have a similar day to Whakatāne,” Wotherspoon said.

The next couple of days should be fairly settled and sunny for the Bay of Plenty, with a bit of cloud in the mornings and evenings and the chance of a shower near Tauranga tonight.

Showers develop on Friday, mainly from the afternoon for inland areas and the evening for the coast. It should clear up on Saturday evening for a fine Sunday.

Temperatures are expected to stay fairly constant in the mid to late 20C, before a drop on Saturday, Wotherspoon said.

Rotorua can expect a high of 19C on Saturday and Tauranga 23C.