A large high, nor’westers and plenty of sunshine will combine to bring some sweltering weather to much of the country, starting Tuesday in the South Island and spreading to most places by Wednesday.

WeatherWatch.co.nz’s head weather analyst, Philip Duncan, says temperatures will easily make it into the 30s from Otago to possibly as far north as Waikato.

“In the South Island a low will push against the large high over New Zealand, creating strong, hot, nor’westers. Temperatures will lift later on Tuesday along central and eastern areas”.

Mr Duncan says by Wednesday the North Island will be hotter too.  “Any cooler sou’westers will be gone and winds will either die out or develop from the northerly quarter.  That means inland areas like Waikato and eastern areas from Whangarei to Tauranga and Gisborne to Masterton will all be in for a hot one”.

The Weather Watch Centre is also monitoring a predicted large pool of low air pressure in the sub-tropics directly north of New Zealand.  “While we’re not confident of accurately forecasting its track at this stage we are confident of unsettled weather north of New Zealand developing around Friday or Saturday”.  

Mr Duncan says the Weather Watch Centre’s forecast for Northland this weekend sees rain or showers and strong easterlies, however just a few showers are expected for Auckland, but humidity will return. 

He says it’s definitely a wait and see game with this potential low.