Temperatures across the North Island and some parts of the South Island are well above average at the moment – with records being broken and challenged this week thanks to the sub-tropical flow.  But the spell of extra warm winter weather in New Zealand is nothing compared to the “oppressive” heatwave hitting the western and central USA.

Yesterday Needles in California hit 51.6 degrees Celsius.

Death Valley went even higher with 52.2C.

Palm Spring California reached 50 degrees.

Meanwhile a United Airlines flight from Houston to Phoenix was refused landing clearance at Sky Harbor airport in Phoenix, Arizona late yesterday after air temps hit 120F/50C – which means planes can’t land due to instrument readings stopping at 117F/47C.

The oppressive heatwave is back again today in the US, affecting 30 to 40 million people.

– Image / Current temperature map for the USA, areas in brown are above 40 degrees C.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz