Warm nor’ westers are pushing up the thermometers in eastern and southern areas of the mainland.

Christchurch hit 25 degrees at 11.30 this morning with Lyttleton and Dunedin close behind on 23. Mid Canterbury is also enjoying the warmth with Ashburton on 22 degrees.

Temperatures could climb a little higher along the Canterbury Plains this afternoon if the sunshine remains over much of the area. Usually daytime highs for late April are around 15 degrees in the region 

It’s difficult to comprehend but some very heavy rain is falling along the Southern Alps, only a little more than 100 kilometres westward of some of the centres mentioned above.

The warm spell is expected to continue for the next 42-78 hours before the arrival of some very chilly air midweek.The mercury is then expected to plunge to single figures in the south and some snow over higher altitudes is likely.