National News

The heat wave that has scorched eastern and southern Australia this week has finally reached our shores and while temperatures here aren't quite as extreme they're still well above average.

In the South Island temperatures have hit the late 20s with mid 20s being recorded in some parts of the North Island.

Open the windows or turn on the AC - Australia's heatwave is about to hit some of our regions today and tomorrow with temperatures potentially reaching the low 30s.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says Gisborne and Hawkes Bay may both reach 30 degrees on Saturday with inland regions, away from the 'official' weather stations, potentially climbing another two or three degrees above that.

Other regions may also feel the heat in both islands.

Windy weather will spread up the South Island and lower North Island over the next couple of days as the isobars scrunch up between a high in the north and a low in the south.

Gale force winds are likely in exposed eastern and southern parts of the South Island and lower North Island on Saturday.

Temperatures in New Zealand are about to hit summer-like levels thanks to a heatwave in Australia.

We saw a slight jump in temperatures this week across northern New Zealand as the first wave of warmer air from Australia brushed Northland and, overnight, Auckland.  

However tomorrow and this weekend temperatures are set to rocket  above 30 for some as a large high moves into the northern Tasman Sea and feeds hot nor'westers over both islands.

Sent in by WeatherWatch.co.nz reader Rob:

On the morning of Thursday 19th November Shuttle STS-129 will fly over New Zealand on its final approach to the space station around 4:20 to 4:25 a.m on its final approach ready to dock to the International Space Station about an hour and a half later.

More weather warnings have been issued for the North Island bringing the total to 11 as a depression crosses the North Island.

New rain warnings have been issued by government forecaster, MetService, for Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Gisborne predicting up to 80mm of rain today along with thunderstorms.

However conditions remain quite settled in Auckland with WeatherWatch.co.nz predicting just a few showers and a change to sou'west winds later today in their independent Auckland forecast.  

A 500-year-old meteor shower will pass over the country Wednesday morning.

The shower will be at its heaviest from 9.34am to 9.44am, but meteors will be visible from about 3am.

Astronomer at Auckland's Stardome Grant Christie predicts it will be a strong shower and mostly visible low in the northeast.

Temperatures along Australia's east coast are surging into Summer-mode with 40 degrees forecast for some parts of Sydney this week.  The heatwave is also affecting Brisbane with temperatures today likely to reach 35 degrees.

Strong winds are set to pounce over the North Island Tuesday and Wednesday as a low in the Tasman Sea quickly moves over the country.

MetService has issued a severe weather watch suggesting heavy rain across Taranaki and the Central Plateau is likely on Tuesday or Wednesday and with the rain will be strong nor'west winds.

There's a mixture of weather for the nation today.