Indian summer set to linger

Connor Edge, 4, at Moureeses Bay, north of Whananaki, enjoys the beach and a game of rugby on Sunday.

Northlanders revelling in the unseasonably warm weather can rejoice, the balmy conditions could last another three weeks as near-record temperatures bathe the region.

MetService meteorologist Lisa Murray said the whole country was getting warmer-than-average temperatures with April providing well-above-average temperatures.

"The whole of 2016 so far has been warmer than normal and that's continuing into May with some very warm temperatures around the place."

The sun was still shining in Northland yesterday. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Ms Murray said Northland recorded an official temperature of 24C on Monday and yesterday, just short of the record May high temperature of 24.3C in 2004 and 2007. But, with the official temperature recorded in a louvred box at Whangarei Airport, the temperature inland will likely be several degrees higher.

Ms Murray said, throughout April, New Zealand experienced high-pressure systems with warm tropical weather coming from the north, which was driving the mercury up. The good news is it's likely to stay around for at least another three weeks.

Whangarei had low overnight temperatures of 15C and 16C this week, which she described as summer-like and particularly warm for May. "The next three weeks are going to be above, or at average for the time of year, so it's going to continue," Ms Murray said.

She said that in April, Whangarei had a mean daily temperature (which averaged out the lows and highs) of 17C - above the normal of 16C.

"That might not seem like much, but it's well above the average and on April 2 you had 27C up there, that's definitely summer temperature territory."

It also meant less rainfall last month, with Whangarei recording 77.3mm of rain last month, compared with the April average of 100.4mm.

The historic May mean daily temperature is 14.7C and, if the start to the month continues, that will be exceeded this year.