It’s hot in the east of New Zealand this afternoon – and in a few other pockets as the mercury soars into the mid to late 20s as we head through Friday PM.

The temperatures have already exceeded the forecast highs for today which were in the low to mid 20s.

“The sub-tropical air flow is warming up even further as it crosses over the eastern ranges as a nor’wester” says head weather forecaster Philip Duncan. “So for some areas they have both an airflow from around Fiji and New Caledonia coupled with a nor’wester over the ranges – it’s a hot September day for some”.

Across the North Island and eastern South Island there are a string of regions into the 20s already.

But not all places are warm.

Wanaka has sleety showers in the area while Queenstown has only just made it to 10 degrees.

Te Anau has 9 degrees.

However a little further south and east and parts of Southland and Otago are now also reaching 20 degrees.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says today is the warmest day for New Zealand since before winter.

Click the map below for LIVE OBSERVATIONS (snapshot below taken at 12noon Friday).