Dunedin is already 27 degrees and many South Island centres are feeling the warmth plus one or two in the North Island.

Oamaru is on 26 and Christchurch is 24 as well as Blenheim, Tmaru and Ashburton. Napier further north is already 24 degrees.The nor’ west winds are bringing rain to the West Coast of the South Island with some localised downpours but the wind is warm east of the Alps and delivering little, if any rain.

A cold front is moving through Southland though this morning with temperatures now in single figures in Invercargill, with a strong southerly and heavy showers. It’s expected to move through Canterbury later this afternoon with a squally and possibly thundery change.

The windiest place is Castlepoint with gusts to 130km/h.  

A cold change has arrived in Southland where it’s just 10 in Invercargill, just over 100kms south of the hot Otago air.