Dunedin was briefly the hottest place in the country this afternoon as the forecast high pressure system began to take hold in the South.
Shortly before 1pm, MetService showed Dunedin on 21.7degC, which was warmer than anywhere else in New Zealand.
The city's place at the top was short-lived, however, as temperatures in Central Otago moved into the mid-20s not long after 1.30pm.
The good news for southerners is that the fine weather is expected to roll into tomorrow, before temperatures take a bit of a dip going into the long weekend.
Earlier, much of the country woke to one of the coldest mornings this spring with freezing temperatures and even frosts in parts of the North Island.
The day had a distinctly wintry feel in Masterton and Taupo, where the temperature was 0C at 6am.
It wasn't much warmer in Palmerston North, Queenstown and Hamilton, which were all sitting on a chilly 3C.
Even Auckland felt a nip on 7C. Only the top of both islands managed to enjoy a slightly warmer start as the mercury hovered around 12C.
MetService said most of the country experienced a cold start to the day but the bracing start was going to give way to a stellar day across the South Island.
Alexandra was expected to soar from a wintry 3C to 26C by the afternoon as southern regions enjoy an unseasonal heat wave.
MetService said after the chilly start temperatures would climb throughout the day across much of the country.
They were expected to rise to above average for most of the South Island today and tomorrow.
Niwa said the southern spring sizzle may be so hot it could challenge temperature records in some inland regions.
MetService said the country would be bathed in summer-like conditions for the next 48 hours before a front hits over Labour Weekend.
