Temperatures set to reach 36C in south this week

Christchurch is looking to reach 29C on Monday followed by a scorching high of 35C on Tuesday. Photo / 123RF

Cantabrians will be looking to dust off their fans and sprinklers this week.

Christchurch is looking to reach 29C on Monday followed by a scorching high of 36C on Tuesday as a ridge of warm weather moves across the country.

MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker said this is 13C above the city's average temperature for this time of year.

"Christchurch is currently looking at 3 days in a row with more than 5C above average."

It is considered a heatwave when temperatures are consistently 5C above average for five days.

🥵 A Temperature Rollercoaster 🥶

Temps continue to rise over the next few days, with eastern regions forecast to reach the mid 30s!! However it's short lived as a front mid week brings a cool change.

Keep up to date with your local forecasts at https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz

^Amy pic.twitter.com/iK90O5pXJz

— MetService (@MetService) January 23, 2021

It is a similar story further south with Timaru expecting to reach 28C on Monday and 34C on Tuesday.

Dunedin and Nelson are also in for some warmer days this week, reaching 30C and 26C on Tuesday respectively.

McKensie Country Weather NZ is reporting Twizel is already sitting near 25C at 9am on Monday.

The sunshine is not expected to last all week with a front expected to bring a cool change to much of the country from about Thursday.

It follows a bleak summer so far in Christchurch.

"People would have felt these long stretches of below-average temperatures over the Christmas period," a MetService meteorologist said.

The south was battered by thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong gales last week.