Temperatures soar for the return to work

People enjoy the sun at Auckland's Mission Bay. Photo / Doug Sherring

Keep the suncream and shades at the ready as this week looks set to remain dry and sunny for most places.

Just as many of us are returning to our desks from the Christmas-New Year holidays, the weather is forecast to stay settled, with the sun shining in through the office windows to distract us.

Temperatures are already soaring around the country, with Masterton leading the way, hitting 28C today.

And it looks as though the good weather is here to stay, even holding out for the weekend, MetService said, although there may be a few showers trying to dampen our spirits in the next day or two.

"There'll be a few showers here and there, and still some cloud to watch out for, but generally settled and dry," meteorologist John Law said.

There was a weak front moving up the country today and tomorrow, which might generate some showers across the Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay and Gisborne, some of which "could be fairly sharp", he said, but "once that clears away towards the north, the high pressure returns and it's a fairly settled week to come with plenty of dry weather about".

The sunny, dry days should continue into the weekend, he said, although Fiordland and Southland will see some cloud pushing back in on Saturday and Sunday.

"But with the high pressure firmly in place across the northern parts of the country, it's going to take a while for it to push through."

Main centres forecast:

* Whangarei - Tomorrow will have fine spells, a chance of afternoon showers and sea breezes, with a high of 26C. Cloudy periods on Thursday, with light afternoon showers and an easterly wind develops, a high of 24C.

* Auckland - Fine spells tomorrow with a chance of light afternoon showers, a southwest breeze and a high of 24C. Thursday will see fine spells, easterly breezes and a high of 24C.

* Hamilton - Cloudy periods tomorrow, some morning or afternoon drizzle, a southwesterly wind and a high of 25C. Fine on Thursday with light winds and a high of 25C.

* Tauranga - A few afternoon and evening showers tomorrow with a chance some will be heavy, sea breezes and a high of 27C. Thursday will be fine, with light winds and sea breezes, a high of 23C.

* Wellington - Morning drizzle followed by cloudy periods, southerly winds and a high of 20C. Fine on Thursday with dying southerlies and a high of 18C.

* Christchurch - Tomorrow will see morning drizzle, becoming fine, followed by some evening cloud, a southerly wind and a high of 19C. Morning cloud on Thursday, becoming fine with some northeasterlies developing, a high of 20C.

* Dunedin - Morning cloud, becoming fine, southwesterlies and a high of 17C. Thursday will also have morning cloud, clearing to become fine, with a northeasterly developing and a high of 18C.

Holiday spots:

* Kerikeri - Fine spells and the odd light afternoon shower, light winds and sea breezes, with a high of 26C. Cloudy periods on Thursday, with a few light showers mainly in the east, easterlies developing and a high of 25C.

* Whitianga - Fine spells with the chance of an afternoon shower, light winds and a high of 26C. A few light showers on Thursday, with easterly breezes and a high of 23C.

* Nelson - Fine tomorrow, with light winds and afternoon sea breezes, and a high of 25C. Thursday is fine, with sea breezes and a high of 20C.

The highs and lows of 2014:

* Yearly rainfall:
Highest - Milford Sound with 6737mm.
Lowest - Alexandra with 305mm.

* Temperature:
Highest Maximum - 33.6C in Alexandra on February 20.
Lowest Minimum - 6.6C in Alexandra on July 18.

* Average temperature:
Warmest - Whangarei at 16.1C.
Coolest - Queenstown at 9.9C.

* Wind:
The strongest wind gust recorded was in Greymouth at 140km/h on April 17.