Christchurch leads the nation in the temperature stakes this morning as warm nor’ westers buffet eastern areas of the country.

The Garden city is already on 20 degrees first thing this morning, which is about 16 degrees above average for mid May. Kaikoura is also feeling the effects of the fohn wind with 19 degrees.

Further north, Napier and Whakatane are just shy of the 20 degree mark with a few other centres also recording a mild start to the morning.

The West Coast of the South Island is seeing some heavy rain fall in Milford Sound with lighter falls in Greymouth, Hokitika and Westport.

Main centres as of 6.30am

Auckland 14

Hamilton 15

Tauranga 18

Wellington 17

Christchurch 20

Dunedin  7