It’s possible that today New Zealand will record a temperature in the shade of 30 degrees and over as a strong nor’wester moves across the South Island.

Coupled with clear, sunny, skies in the east the hot winds should see highs in the mid and late 20s for most centres.

That hot weather will then shift into the North Island’s east coast on Sunday, lifting highs by as as much as 12 degrees compared to earlier this week in places like Gisborne, Napier and Hastings, predictions WeatherWatch.co.nz.

The latest predictions from WeatherWatch.co.nz say Canterbury and Otago are most likely to hit the 30 degree mark during Saturday.

However the heat won’t be long lasting – with colder winds arriving on Sunday in the South Island, cutting highs back by over 10 degrees.

Homepage Image / Liz Hall