KEY POINTS:
We're about to head into another 24 to 36 hours of unsettled weather after an absolutely stunning day yesterday for many.
In Auckland a number of people recorded temperatures around 30 degrees with their own private weather stations - and if you factor in humidity, which was around 50 to 60 per cent, the temperature felt closer to 38 degrees! Many people posted comments at weatherwatch.co.nz saying what a perfect way it was to kick off 2009!
Today we have a high moving out to the north east of New Zealand, another high out in the Tasman Sea on the way in - and over the next day or so some lower air pressure will move in, along with a number of relatively weak fronts.
Wet Weather
Again the South Island's west coast will be the wettest. But showers are likely for most places in the west with the rain or showers becoming less and less the further north you head (and probably not affecting the North Island until Saturday).
Hot Weather
Winds from the northerly quarter will continue today. If you had a restless sleep last night due to the heat I wouldn't be surprised. At 5am this morning it 21 degrees in Napier, 20 in Auckland and a number of places in the North Island had almost no wind and an overnight low around 19. Today eastern and northern areas will be in for a hot one - with higher humidity levels over northern New Zealand.
Cold snap?
A southerly change is going to bring in a brief cold snap for the South Island. Highs in Southland and possibly up to Canterbury will be in the mid to late teens.
Settled weather should return to most places by Sunday.
Next Update: Saturday morning.
- Philip Duncan
