A balmy evening is covering much of the country tonight as warm northerlies engulf our shores.

Temperatures near the 20 degree mark are in eastern pockets of the North Island whereas the mid to high teens are commonplace elsewhere.

Todays highest temperatures were in the mid 20s with Timaru recording 25 degrees and Christchurch and Oamaru just 1 degree behind on 24.

Tomorrow conditions are likely to be largely similar on the temperature stakes however more cloud and some rain in the south is likely to move in.

The following 24 hours is looking much colder as polar air advances up the mainland and cold southerlies move up the island with temperatures expected to fall rapidly.