From winter snow to scorching sun: Australian air sees temperatures skyrocket to 25 ° C

It’s shaping up to be a foretaste of summer, with days of scorching temperatures of up to 25 ° C in store for many parts of New Zealand starting tomorrow.

After a tumultuous week in which we searched for our thick coats and turned on the heaters as snow covered the deep south and strong icy winds and torrential rains hit the country, the eastern and northern regions of both islands will be bathed in sunshine. for much of the next week. .

Both Christchurch and Napier will see the mercury rise to a pleasant 24 ° C on Sunday.

But the week will start on an even warmer note if you find yourself in Gisborne, where temperatures tip to reach 25 ° C as a pool of hot air from Australia blankets the country.

Niwa Weather said the hot air mass would cause temperatures to reach 25 ° C or more from this weekend and into early next week as it dominates the skies.

Many eastern and northern regions are poised for a four-day series in which daytime highs are between 22 and 24 ° C.

While Auckland is not expected to exceed 20 ° C, the northern city will enjoy six straight days of warm temperatures reaching highs of 19 ° C and 18 ° C.

MetService says the spring westerly winds would return to the south over the weekend, which means good weather for the eastern regions, but wet weather for the west.

Although it was not predicted to be as stormy as last weekend, the forecaster cautioned that exposed locations should prepare for gusts of wind.

Strong and dry northwesterly winds indicated good weather for the eastern regions, while the western regions could expect wet weather with the passing of a front over the weekend.

Heavy rain warnings and vigils spread along the west coast as a front crossed the island on Saturday and Sunday.

Southland, Fiordland, downtown Otago and parts of Canterbury were under heavy wind watch.