We knew today had the potential for the late 30s and this is happening now right across Canterbury.

A number of both official (MetService) and accurate private weather stations are now showing just how hot Canterbury currently is with MetService confirming 37 in Timaru and 38 in Ashburton.

Scores of other locations are in the mid 30s across the South Island and into the low 30s for some parts of the North Island.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says Amberley is 38C and so too is Geraldine as of 2:30pm. There are unconfirmed reports of 40C in Temuka, certainly possible under these conditions.

On Wednesday the hottest weather shifts further up the South Island and into the eastern half of the North Island.

The hot weather is coming from a combination of three things: 1) a pulse of heat out of Australia’s interior 2) sub-tropical northerly quarter winds and 3) all timed in the middle of the afternoon with a nor’west flow.

While not quite as energetic as two other systems that have pushed Canterbury into the low 40s over the past half century, this event is certainly a significant heat event for parts of New Zealand – and it will dramatically end on Thursday when some parts of the South Island switch from being +8C above normal to -8C below normal for late January as a bitterly cold (for mid-summer!) southerly arrives.

2:30pm temperatures…