Nor’ west gales buffeted the mainland overnight with gusts well in excess of 100kph in a number of areas.

Gore topped 120kph early this morning with South West Cape exceeding 150kph. Further north and Castlepoint nudged 130kph in a howling northwest wind.

Temperatures soared in the east as the hot northwesterly got underway. At 5 o’clock Timaru was sitting on a staggering 29 degrees with the wind peaking at over 80kph, Ashburton had 28 with winds gusting up to 90kph and Christchurch sat on a very warm 26 with a northerly of around 40kph.

A front is due to move up the east of the mainland this morning with winds easing later and temperatures cooling off.