KEY POINTS:
Hawke's Bay sweltered under record temperatures yesterday, with the mercury officially reaching 37degC in Wairoa, 36.7degC in Hastings and 35.8degC in Napier.
But unofficial weather watchers told Hawke's Bay Today it was even hotter; Bay View's Alistair Dennis said the thermometer at his Seafield Rd hit the 40s and an Esk Valley resident said it was 44degC there.
"I can't remember a hotter day," Mr Dennis said.
"I guess what made it so hot was the hot winds."
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research confirmed today that the official temperatures were the hottest since records began.
- NZPA
