18 Jan 2019

Weekend weather: Aus heatwave to boost NZ temps

11:42 am on 18 January 2019

Hot air from the heat wave across the Tasman will bring balmy temperatures to much of New Zealand tomorrow, Niwa says.

Marlborough Sounds as seen from Queen Charlotte Track.

The Marlborough Sounds near Blenheim Photo: 123rf

Australia is sweltering under record temperatures which have hit as high as 46C in New South Wales. Queensland has broken its record for the most consecutive days above 40C with 33 days racked up in the state's northwest.

MetService said parts of the east of this country, including Blenheim, Kaikōura and Gisborne, could get to 31C.

The rest of the country could look forward to temperatures above 20C with Auckland looking to get 25C, Hamilton 26C, Wellington 22C, Christchurch 29C and 25C in Dunedin.

But there's a heavy rain warning for Westland and Fiordland tomorrow, and strong winds are expected on the Southland coast and parts of Otago, MetService said.

Northwest gales would develop in Wairarapa and Wellington on Saturday lasting through Sunday and into Wellington Anniversary on Monday, it said.

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