A strong nor’wester today is going to drive temperatures to around 30 degrees across New Zealand’s south east and the weather forecast is for similar weather over the next couple of days.

“From Otago to Marlborough temperatures will reach between 25 and 30 degrees with a strong, hot, nor’wester kicking into gear today” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.

Mr Duncan says temperatures will climb into the lower to mid 20s across the North Island’s east coast from Wairarapa to Gisborne.

Yesterday Alexandra reached 30 degrees with 27 being recored in Timaru.

“We’re in for a windy couple of days and that’ll drive temperatures up along the east coast of the country but a cold southerly is expected to arrive tomorrow across the South Island”.

Winds are likely to rise to gale force in a number of areas and government forecaster, MetService, has issued a number of wind warnings. 

Across the South Island’s West Coast rain warnings have also been issued.

As of 10am gales were blasting Gore with gusts close to 100km/h.   A number of centres are reporting temperatures around 17 or 18 degrees across the South Island with 21 degrees recorded on Banks Peninsula at Le Bons Bay at 7:30am.