Temperatures remained above mid March highs today for much of the country once more as the Big Dry kicked off for another week.

North Islanders bore the brunt of the heat with many calling for a cooler change as thermometers soared above the 30 degree mark.

Hamilton, Taumaranui, Palmerston North and Kawerau all entered the low thirties and in some cases it felt hotter as very little wind provided not an ounce of relief.

Cloud kept eastern areas from Ashburton to Balclutha across the south quite cool with Dunedin only managing 15 degrees.

Thick fog rolled into Wellington this morning disrupting travellers with some flights cancelled and delayed.

The fog arrived about 9.15am and disappeared about lunchtime.

The heat further north though this aftrnoon was starting to rattle a few nerves according to some of our readers.

“Gawd it’s heating up now. Our weather site says 28.5. Poor Waikato, we’re taking a hammering” said Tash.

Chana was struggling under blue skies…”Stinkin blazin hot no reprieve from that radiation sun burn time almost instant”.

Patsy asked what the temperature was earlier today in Palmerston North and when we replied with 28 degrees her response was “time for me to close up the windows and put the heat pump on cold, then its a nice cool house for the family to come home to.”…Nice idea Patsy.

The dry weather is also noticeable for the dusty conditions” The ground is so dry that it is quite a sight when the chickens start running – dust all over the place!” said Kim.

Megan hasn’t been a big fan of the heat “Not a cloud in the sky here in Rotorua. The BOP is taking a hammering as well. not sure what the temp is but im slowly melting”.

Summing it up today and the last word belongs to Lauren” the whole of NZ needs a weeks rain lets hope it comes soon.”

Homepage image of a lazy early Autumn afternoon across Lake Taupo

WeatherWatch