Timaru claimed top spot for the highest temperate in the country on Sunday afternoon, with the good weather expected to continue for the last week of the school holidays.
On Sunday afternoon, Metservice forecaster Gerard Bellam said Timaru was “the warmest spot in New Zealand as of 4pm, according to our records”.
The MetService’s temperature, taken at Timaru Airport was 23.1C – the average for this time of year is 16C,
Bellam said.
At Christchurch Airport, at the same time, it was 22.6C, he said.
READ MORE:
* South Cantabrians head to beach as temperature soars
* Huge rainfall ends Aoraki/Mt Cook’s record dry spell
* Christchurch notches up driest March in 12 years
“And the warm weather looks to continue for most of the week ahead.”
He said the week ahead will be “mostly sunny and warm” before a cold front crosses the region near the end of the week.
Monday will be much like Sunday, with northwest winds, and some clouds in the afternoon, and an expected high of 21C, he said.
Tuesday is expected to much like Monday, with a high of 17C.
Fog and cloudy skies are expected mid-week through to the weekend with some sunny breaks throughout the day, with the high sitting around the 13C, Bellam said.
He could not confirm reports to Stuff of 27C in Geraldine on Sunday afternoon, as the MetService did not have a weather station in the town, he said.
An orange heavy rain warning was also in place for the Canterbury High Country from 4pm to 11pm on Monday.
Between 100 to 140mm of rain on the Main Divide was expected, and 60 to 90mm within 20 kilometres further east.
A strong wind watch was also in place for the same area from 3pm on Monday to 3am on Tuesday, when northwest winds were expected to approach severe gale in exposed places.
© 2022 Stuff Limited