It’s a big weekend for the northern half of the North Island this weekend with Auckland Anniversary and the A1GP both underway.

WeatherWatch.co.nz’s new independent forecasts says the weekend is looking hot and relatively sunny.  “A big, strong, high is anchored firmly over the North Island bringing sunny skies and just a few afternoon clouds” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.  “As we said earlier in the week, there’s an outside chance of an isolated afternoon heat shower in some areas other than that it’s classic Summer weather”.

The A1GP in Taupo – which kicked off yesterday and goes through – should have hot, sunny, weather.  “Temperatures will be in the upper 20s and with sunny skies and little wind the track temperature should be into the 40s” says Duncan. 

Mr Duncan says spectators near the track may be sitting in temperatures well into the 30s.

Meanwhile hot weather has returned to the east of the country after a period of cooler weather thanks to a low pressure system last weekend.  On Thursday temperatures bounced back into the 30s across the South Island’s east coast and mid to upper 20s across many North Island centres.