Auckland was close but not quite close enough to beating a June record today for heat reports WeatherWatch.co.nz.

Today’s high of 21 degrees appears at this early stage to be just a degree off the highest ever maximum June temperature which was 22.3C at North Shore on June 8, 1998.

Numerous other centres hit the balmy 21 degree mark today including Whangarei, Hamilton, Tauranga, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, Wanganui, Palmerston North and Masterton.

Today’s national high was 22 in Whitianga, several degrees above the average high for June.

According to our sources the highest June temperature ever recorded in New Zealand was 24.4 in Dargaville on June 8 1998, based on NIWA statistics.

We’re currently checking to see if any of today’s unusually high temperatures have broken any local records.

And WeatherWatch.co.nz says the heat isn’t over yet with highs again expected in the late teens and early 20s tomorrow and on Tuesday across much of the North Island and upper South Island.

With a north west flow building on Tuesday it may again be another record challenging day for highs across the North Island.

You may also be interested in:

• Today’s Daily Highs in your town
• Column: Warm exit to winter to that’s going nowhere
• Forecast for Queen’s Birthday Monday

– WeatherWatch.co.nz