The mercury-boosting month that boasted Wairarapa's hottest day on record also proved the sunniest in Martinborough since 1987, new statistics show.
January figures just issued by Niwa in Wellington show the town basked under just less than 280 hours of sunshine throughout the month.
Consistent sunshine and scorching temperatures across the region also delivered Wairarapa its second driest month and its second highest mean maximum January temperature since 1990.
There was just 20mm of rain over the month just more than the scant fall of 13.4 last January while the mean maximum temperature was 26.1C, pipped by 2004's measure of 26.6 for the period.
Meanwhile, expectations that Sunday's temperatures would soar higher than the record-breaking reading of 34.6C on January 8 were almost proved correct the mercury rose to 33.6C, just beating Saturday's high of 33C.
The highest temperature across the country for the balmy long weekend was 38C, recorded at Culverden in Canterbury on Sunday.
But Met Service weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said that still did not threaten the February 7, 1972 reading of 42.4C, in nearby Rangiora, which stands as New Zealand's hottest day.
"What's bringing the warm weather at the moment? It's February. There's an anticyclone, we've got nor'westers, the sea is warmer than normal and it's sunny. It's a combination of all of those factors."
Looking ahead, Mr McDavitt said this summer could well turn out to be a memorable one for Wairarapa.
"It looks like this may turn out to be a long, dry summer with high pressure systems dominating the weather map.
"There may be some cloudy and humid periods when anticyclones linger to east of the country.
"When this is happening, watch the weather maps for any low pressure systems approaching from the north, for these may bring you a few days of wind and rain," he said.
"There should also be a few light-wind days that start out sunny but end up with showery downpours on the ranges and foothills."
Carterton resident and Wairarapa Midweek rainfall recorder Kelvin Doull said last summer had brought the biggest drought for many years, "and so far this is shaping up to be the same although there's still a long way to go".
More records fall as the mercury rises
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