Summer close as temperature soars

Mikaela Walker and her son August Walker, 9 months, from Bridge Pa, had fun in the water at Splash Planet, Hastings, yesterday. Photo / Duncan Brown

Hastings trumped the country's temperatures yesterday with an unseasonal 31.4C.

It was the hottest spring temperature this year, with MetService meteorologist Claire Flynn warning an even more sweltering high is expected today.

Ms Flynn said there were no significant features coming through the region until a cold front approaches tomorrow.

"Hawke's Bay will still get those warm northwesterly winds ahead of the front, which should keep temperatures soaring today" Ms Flynn said.

Westerly winds were generally dry due to the "Foehn effect", which occurs when air mass becomes dry and warm as it passes over the ranges.

Another 31C high is forecast for today but Ms Flynn said this could be even higher.

The hottest Spring day in 2014 came on November 25 with 29.1C recorded at Nelson Park in Napier.

"We are certainly close to summer," Ms Flynn said.

Today's northwesterly winds are expected to get gustier which may help offset the heat.

However, the bad news is rain is set to spoil the party for the weekend.

Tomorrow a cold front will lie over the upper North Island which will slowly move to the region bringing rain or showers.

Northerly winds will become westerly later in the afternoon.

"A cooler change moves up the country on Saturday and Sunday isn't likely to be as muggy," she said.

Sunday will see a ridge moving over the country bringing a spate of sunny skies.

"Hawke's Bay will see plenty of sun and temperatures should drop to the early twenties."

The sunny start to the summer season is set to stop with next week's forecast including more rain and cloudy skies.

Ms Flynn said the high temperatures could also be the beginning of "the big dry", experts predicted.

Forecasters expect that the strong El Nino conditions of this spring will continue into the summer and autumn of 2016.