Hawke's Bay temperatures over the past few days would be considered unusually warm even in summer, and a forecaster says more is on the way next week.
(File image) Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
NIWA meteorologist Chris Brandolino said there had been near-record temperatures in the region.
Whakatu, near Hastings, recorded an average maximum of 27C in the five days from last Thursday to Monday.
That was seven degrees above the November average maximum of 20C, he said.
For context, the average daytime temperature in mid-summer is just over 23C, Brandolino said.
"If this were mid-January this would be unusually warm temperatures.
"We had 31.3C for a maximum over the weekend, and that is the fourth-warmest November temperature on record for Whakatu, going back to 1965."
Dannevirke had its third highest November temperature since 1931, he said.
MetService designates a heatwave when a place has five consecutive days of temperatures at least 5C warmer the average maximum for the month, putting Hawke's Bay on the brink of the classification.
All eyes will be on Hawke's Bay today
— MetService (@MetService) November 15, 2021
Temperatures at Napier Airport just need to touch 26.4°C today for this warm period be classified as a heatwave
Currently at 23.9°C... pic.twitter.com/vIv49A9hSJ
Temperatures of 25C to 27C were likely today, followed by cooling weather for the next few days, Brandaline said.
"But as we work our way in to the weekend and into next week we're going to see another round of very warm, potentially hot, temperatures", Brandolino said, possibly reaching 30.
Ocean temperatures around the country are about 1C above average.
"That's going to load the dice and make it easier for our air temperatures to be above average," Brandolino said.
The entire year has been unusually hot, and in November alone about 45 locations across the country were having temperatures in their top four.
It's been a scorching start to November, aside from the east coastal fringe...
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) November 15, 2021
...while this week will feature a cooling trend, next week could have another surge of heat
We're closely monitoring 2021's annual temperature ranking — it will be near the top. pic.twitter.com/HKmgfMaHgE
Elsewhere, Wellingtonians will not be getting a reprieve from the gales battering the area until later on Tuesday.
Overnight on Monday, gusts reached 118km/h in the central city suburb of Kelburn, MetService says.
Here are some of the top wind gusts measured around Wellington in the last 12hrs
— MetService (@MetService) November 15, 2021
No relief just yet as severe gales continue in exposed areas until later tonight pic.twitter.com/WPLkdeXRWU
