Weather scorcher: Kaikōura soars to 32C, more 30 degree-plus temperatures forecast this week, severe thunderstorm warning lifted

Scorching temperatures in eastern parts of New Zealand has seen Kaikōura soar to 32C.

And forecasters are tipping more 30C-plus temperatures in the week ahead as summer hits.

The West Coast has been struck by rain and but a severe thunderstorm warning issued tonight for parts of Canterbury has just been lifted.

MetService recorded the blistering 32C temperature at 1pm this afternoon, but a cool southerly arriving later today is forecast to bring some rain and possible thunderstorms to eastern parts of the South Island.

In the North Island, Napier has had the pick of the weather, reaching temperatures above 29C.

Auckland, Northland, Gisborne and Palmerston North have had heat in the mid-20s.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) predicts New Zealand’s air masses over the next week will often have a transtasman connection and will likely produce several opportunities for temperatures to reach the 30s.

It’s not all sunshine throughout the country, however, with multiple regions on the West Coast experiencing bucketing rain.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued tonight for Lincoln, Rolleston, West Melton, Springston and Templeton, but has now been lifted.

The thunderstorms were moving east and were expected to lie near Christchurch at 7.15pm and near Lyttelton and Banks Peninsular at 7.45pm.

“These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain and hail.

“Very heavy rain can cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous.”

Westland, about and north of Franz Josef Glacier, is under an orange heavy rain warning until 4pm this afternoon, with 70 to 100mm of rainfall expected about the ranges and 30 to 50mm near the coast.

Buller is also under the warning until 6pm, with peak rain intensities of 15 to 25mm/h. Thunderstorms are possible.

Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.

Yellow heavy rain watches are also in place for Tasman west of Tākaka, Nelson Lakes and Canterbury High Country north of Mount Arrowsmith into this evening, and the Taraua Range until 4am on Monday.

Periods of heavy rain may approach warning criteria and thunderstorms are possible.

Hokitika River at Colliers Creek had 169.5mm for the 24 hours to 2pm today, MetService says.

Heavy rain for the West Coast has now started to shift inland.

An earlier strong wind warning in place along SH8 between Twizel and Fairlie, including over Burkes Pass, has lapsed.

Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.