Summer is only two days old and already parts of the country are sweltering.
A tropical air mass moving across the country from the northwest has lifted temperatures to around 30degC in parts of the South Island today.
Canterbury was leading the way, with MetService recording a scorching 34degC at Rolleston just after midday. Central Otago wasn't far behind, Wanaka's lunchtime temperature up to 30degC.
Dunedinites are feeling the heat too - the temperature in the central city was around 25degC at midday, while Portobello had warmed up to 28degC.
North Islanders are dealing with a humid day - temperatures are around the mid-20s in many places with cloud and rain for lower areas and warm, overcast conditions around the upper island.
Some heavy rain is forecast for the west of the South Island today, the heaviest falls expected around Buller and south of Karamea.
MetService meteorologist Tom Adams told Fairfax media a warm and moist tropical air mass was moving across the country.
"The east coast [of the South Island] quite often at this time of year gets those northwest winds, which will raise temperatures,'' he said.
"What's notable is the northwesterly is particularly warm and moist, which means there's more rain, more latent heat and warmer in the east.
However, he warned of a cold front starting to approach the South Island.
"That will bring a change."
The front is expected to move onto the South Island early tomorrow morning then reach Cook Strait tomorrow night.
The flow tends more westerly behind this front, and another front is due in Fiordland late in the day.
