Just two days after being dusted in a snowstorm, the South Island basked in a heatwave yesterday as temperatures reached the mid-30°s.
Beaches were packed and locals did whatever they could to cool off as Otago and Southland reached 35°C. At 5pm, it was still 34.2°C in Alexandra. But the good times were not set to last. Rain is expected to hit today, starting with the North Island. Weather experts said the same high which has brought record temperatures to Australia had an impact here.
The scorching heat was related to the weather system in Australia.
WeatherWatch analyst Philip Duncan advised holidaymakers to keep an eye out for the weather forecast before making plans. Cyclone Freda was still a chance to head this way.
