The nor’wester continues to blow in some areas giving temperatures another sharp spike this afternoon.

As of 1:30pm Timaru was the hottest place with 29 degrees.  WeatherWatch.co.nz estimates that temperatures in some parts of inland Canterbury and Otago will climb into the low 30s this afternoon.

Other warm to hot centres are Dunedin, Wanaka, Nelson and Whitianga on 23, Christchurch and Gisborne on 24 and the low 20s in parts of Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, Lower Hutt, Marlborough and Oamaru.

WeatherWatch.co.nz predicts temperatures will rise further in many places over the next one to two hours.

Full details of the national highs on the Daily Highs page between 4:15 and 4:45pm every day.