The norwester blew over Christchurch overnight and is continuing to gust up to gale force this morning but it appears other areas of Canterbury have missed out on the blow up until this point.

Christchurch Airport had gusts exceeding 70 kph throughout the hours of darkness which was significantly stronger than expected.

Weather Analyst Richard Green says “It does appear that a majority of the wind has been funnelled into Christchurch but not affecting too many other areas”.

The winds are forecast to ease later but the heat is the talking point. Green goes onto say ” Temperatures didn’t basically drop below 20 degrees in the city overnight due to the wind and across many eastern areas of Marlborough and Canterbury today and tomorrow we should see temperatures top 30 degrees and if the sun stays with us it maybe a little higher”.

By 8.30 this morning it was already nudging 26 degrees in Christchurch as the wind continued to aid the warmth. Conditions around parts of the red and black province were becoming drier by the minute as the hot fohn winds blew.

The next couple of days should see other areas of the country also feel the heat as hot air in a northwest flow moved across the Tasman.

As of 8.30 this morning other main centre temperatures were Auckland on 18, Hamilton 15, Wellington 18 and Dunedin 17.