MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said "it has been hot".
The national meteorological service’s Dunedin Airport temperature gauge got up to 30.4°C just before 2pm yesterday.
Before yesterday, the hottest November days recorded in Dunedin were in 2009 and 2008 when the temperature got up to 31°C and 31.1°C, respectively.
Mr Ferris said there had been a "three-pronged attack of warmth" yesterday.
The northwesterly winds, which are known to be warmer winds, the sunny day and the humidity that draped across the country yesterday made for the perfect recipe for a hot day.
The warm weather was expected to hold pretty steady for the rest of the week as well, with temperatures staying above 20°C through the weekend.
"Warm afternoons are lined up for the next few days through the weekend, so people will maybe be kicking off the blankets overnight."
Further south, people enjoyed the warm weather too.
Invercargill recorded a high of 25.3°C.
In Queenstown, holiday-makers also enjoyed a warm day with a high of 24.6°C,while in Oamaru, the temperature had climbed to 29.1°C by 3pm.
