Sizzling Temps Around NZ
- Publish date
- Monday, 21 Dec 2015, 6:36PM

Photo: iStock
Record-breaking temperatures have swept through the country today with the heat in Christchurch reaching a sweltering 36.1 degrees this afternoon.
The heat in the city was hot enough to break the previous record of 35.4C measured in December 1975 at Christchurch Airport.
It was also the hottest temperature of the day nationwide.Christchurch is one of a handful of cities to smash temperature records which had been set previously in the month of December.
Christchurch one of a handful of cities to smash temperature records which had been set previously in the month of December.
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Dunedin reached 34.6C breaking the city's record of 32.2C, while Timaru, further north, hit 34.1C during today's mini-heat wave.
Ashburton, meanwhile, hit a scorching 35.2C earlier this afternoon almost reaching the town's December record of 36.3C set in 1971.
Other centres in the South Island also felt the heat with Oamaru reaching a high of 31.9C and Blenheim 25.7C.
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Unfortunately for many enjoying the warmer weather, the hot temperatures felt throughout the country will not hang around for long.
The sizzling weather was also expected to sweep through the eastern parts of the North Island with Napier expected to reach 30C, Gisborne 28C and Masterton 29C.
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MetService meteorologist Claire Flynn said the heat would soon begin tapering off thanks to a cold front set to hit the South Island this evening.
She said colder temperatures were expected to hit Southland first before moving up the country tonight and tomorrow morning.
Parts of the North Island can expect brief patches of rain tomorrow as the front makes it way across New Zealand.