As forecast it’s a scorcher today in the southern and eastern sides of the South Island with temperatures into the 30s already.

Parts of Southland have reached 30 degrees this hour, 32 in Central Otago and as high as 33 in Canterbury.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the hottest part of the day is still a few more hours away.

Incredibly, tomorrow may be even hotter in parts of Southland and Otago as the dry airflow continues.

Meanwhile parts of the North Island is are dealing with a different type of heat – a more humid “thicker air”
 which makes lower temperatures feel hotter. Humidity levels aren’t extreme but it’s making temperatures in the mid to late 20s feel more like 30.

The dry air in the South Island will make for higher temperatures today – but the upper North Island will have a much warmer night as the humid air holds on to the daytime warmth for longer, keeping overnight temperatures in the 20s for many tonight while southerners drop to the mid teens.

12:20PM TEMPERATURE MAP – CLICK FOR THE LIVE VERSION:

– WEATHERWATCH.CO.NZ