The return of spring: temperatures could rise to 12 ° C above average tomorrow

Prepare for the return of the spring sun – some parts of New Zealand could be 12 ° C warmer than usual tomorrow.

And summer sheets may be needed on the bed, and temperatures tonight are expected to be well above average, at least on the South Island.

After a week in which snow covered the deep south, temperatures are now forecast to rise to mid and even as high as 20 degrees in the eastern parts of the north and south islands this weekend.

Conditions will be mostly good in most of the North Island today, with only some rain and possibly rain on the lower western side of the island. The warmest places would be Gisborne and Napier, at 22 ° C, while Auckland’s maximum temperature would be 19 ° C.

The east side of the South Island will be fine today, while there will be some showers and rain in the western areas.

Metservice meteorologist Andy Best said warm winds from the northwest were driving unusually high temperatures on the South Island.

Kaikoura has a maximum temperature of 22 ° C and Christchurch 23 ° C today. That was 6 ° C above average for this time of year.

Gore and Invercargill would hit 19 ° C, also around 6 ° C above average. It will be a pleasant night for the South Island, with temperatures 6 ° C to 8 ° C above average.

Most of the North Island will remain fine tomorrow, with Hastings expected to hit 25C (5C above average) and Napier and Gisborne 24C.

On the South Island, Kaikoura would reach 27 ° C, about 12 ° C higher than average for this time of year. Asburton and Alexandra would reach 24C, Christchurch and Blenheim 25C.

It’ll get cold tomorrow night. But on Monday warm conditions will continue, especially between Masterton and Hamilton on the North Island. Hastings and Gisborne would be in their mid-20s. The South Island would also remain warm.

There is currently a strong wind watch for Canterbury, which lasts until tomorrow morning. The rest of the South Island east of the Southern Alps also has a strong wind warning, with winds possibly reaching 130 km / h tonight.

There is also a heavy rain warning for the lower half of the South Island, which lasts until tomorrow afternoon.