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UPDATED 1pm, Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

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Temperatures overnight were quite bouyant with only one or 2 centres dropping into single figures.

Paraparaumu has been down as low as 5 degrees and Wanganui just slipped below double figures on 9 degrees otherwise the teens were commonplace up and down the country.

We haven't seen it for a little while but the national high climbed up to the thirties today.

Alexandra topped 31 degrees with Wanaka hot on its heels with 30. A number of inland areas across the mainland were very warm with temperatures still climbing after the official 4pm reading.

Central Otago is seeing much of the heat this afternoon with Queenstown on 24, Wanaka on 26 and Alexandra topping 29.

The warmest areas appear to be in inland areas with abundant sunshine and little wind which is causing the thermometer to climb.

More than 90% of the nation should have a dry day today with some sunshine but also just a few cloudy areas.

The second week of March however is looking a little more changeable than previous weeks, as a cold southerly is looming later in the week, bringing much more autumnal conditions to the south with expected highs struggling to get into the teens in some cases.

We've covered some stories before regarding our climate and how it is promoted online to the global market.

Here is another angle where it's focussed on New Zealand's sunshine and the harsh UV rays plus the supposed abundance of it!.

The term El Nino means 'Christ Child' and was first used by Peruvian fishermen in the late 1800's to describe the warm current appearing off the western coast of Ecuador and Peru around Christmas time.

Temperatures this afternoon are barely average and Waiouru is the coolest with just 13 degrees.

A few centres are in the low 20s but no centre is particularly high with perhaps the exception of Alexandra in the mid 20s.

Most of the country will be dry again today with temperatures near average for many of us.

The only showers forecast are possible in the far east of the country in the North island and the deep south may see a few splashes later in the day.

We are well into March and the nights and early mornings are fast drawing in, as we quickly head towards the cooler months. it wasn't that long ago that daylight saving was extended and pushed back to April.