More than 80% of the country recorded temperatures of 20 degrees or higher today as Friday turned out to be a mild to warm one for many areas.

It was almost 30 degrees for both the Hawkes Bay centres with Gisborne further north recording 26 degrees and Blenheim further south enjoyed the heat also today and managed 27 degrees.

There were a few cool areas mainly across the western areas of the South island with Milford Sound recording an autumnal 15 degrees as the nationwide low.

Although there weren’t wall to wall blue skies, mild breezes in some cases kept the thermometers respectable.

Wellington saw rain overnight and although conditions improved today there was still a delay in the third cricket test between the Black Caps and South Africa.
Play resumed after a 3 hour delay with blustery winds helping aid the drying process of the Basin Reserve.

Tonight temperatures are likely to be close to average or a little higher in places where low cloud either returns or remains throughout the hours of darkness.

Cantabrians tomorrow may see the warmest temperatures with highs expected in the mid 20s once any morning cloud peels away to possibly reveal high cloud along with warm breezes.

Story by WeatherWatch.co.nz weather analyst Richard Green