Weather conditions across New Zealand today are ‘balmy’ according to WeatherWatch.co.nz forecasters who are monitoring a warm northerly flow across the country.

In the South Island Christchurch has 24 degrees this hour with a gusty nor’wester while northern centres of the North Island have high humidity and temperatures in the low 20s.

“It’s a warm day today, in fact I’d describe it as balmy” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.  “It’s hard to believe the shortest day of the year is just five weeks away and start of winter is only two weeks away”.

The warm northerly is a result of an intense sub-tropical low that yesterday moved down the west coast of New Zealand bringing damaging winds to Auckland and the West Coast.

Power was cut to a number of homes in Auckland, Greymouth and Hokitika.

Conditions are cooler around Otago and Southland with highs in the low to mid teens this hour.

“The next thing to watch on the weather radar will be some big shower clouds moving in from the Tasman Sea overnight tonight but more so overnight Friday and early Saturday.  There’s a good chance we may see some lightning” says Mr Duncan.

Despite the heat and high humidity the thunderstorms haven’t yet arrive over New Zealand although the Lightning Tracker at www.weatherwatch.co.nz has detected over 2000 out in the Tasman Sea today.