(file image) Photo: 123rf
The South Island and central North Island are set to have a reprieve from the hot and muggy nights, and there is even a chance of snow in Fiordland.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) said minimum temperatures in the South Island and central North Island would almost exclusively be below 10 degrees Celsius overnight.
"Temperatures tonight are set to plummet in many areas, with Alexandra forecast to drop to 3°C, and Queenstown and Wanaka to 4°C. Hastings will see a drop of 20°C, from 32°C to just 12°C tonight," said MetService Meteorologist Dom Barry.
There was also a "possibility of snow flurries" about the Fiordland Ranges to 800m on Tuesday afternoon.
"The change to cooler air also brings the possibility of a light dusting of some unseasonable snow falling about the very highest parts of Fiordland, Southland, Southern Otago, and the Canterbury High Country. However, with the recent warm weather we have had heating the ground, it is unlikely any snow will settle," Barry said.
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, which has been in the mid and high-20 degrees range this week - had some respite with a wet southwest change on Tuesday morning. Temperatures tonight and for the coming nights were forecast to be about 15C for the region.
Wednesday was set to be mainly fine, with showers in the eastern coasts. A period of settled weather for most was expected on Thursday.
Heading into the weekend, temperatures are once again set to rise into the mid-to late 20s for most. Then on Friday some possibly heavy rain for Fiordland and Westland.
Meanwhile, MetService was monitoring a tropical cyclone brewing off the coast of Australia, but it was not yet clear if it would boomerang back to New Zealand.
"The current forecast is for this system to move westwards towards Australia and Queensland on Thursday," it said in a statement.
Tropical Low 05U/90P over the Coral Sea has a high risk of developing into a Tropical Cyclone tomorrow
— MetService (@MetService) January 23, 2024
This system will move southwestwards towards Australia and Queensland on Thursday. While it is too early at this stage to know if it will boomerang back to Aotearoa New… pic.twitter.com/MObpq0W45u
