Canterbury residents are being warned of an increased fire danger as hot, dry conditions persist across the region following a weekend of extreme weather.

MetService meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon said while winds in Canterbury and other eastern regions are easing compared to the damaging gales over the weekend, they still contribute to a heightened fire risk. “Daytime temperatures are forecast to reach the mid-to-high twenties in Canterbury for the rest of the week,” she said.

The shift to typical summer weather follows a dramatic 24 hours that saw gale-force winds and heavy rain batter parts of the country. Hot northwesterly winds gusted up to 109 km/h in Kaikōura and Culverden and pushed temperatures in Timaru to a scorching 31.8°C. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall accompanied the front, with about 220mm recorded on the Tararua Range overnight.

While Canterbury and Marlborough can expect clear skies and warm temperatures for much of the week, MetService is reminding residents to exercise caution. “Fire danger is on the rise with the beginning of summer, and it is recommended that anyone planning to light a fire or engage in activities that could cause a spark check the conditions at checkitsalright.nz first,” Wotherspoon said.

Looking ahead, typical summer weather will prevail over central New Zealand, with light winds and clear skies. However, bursts of rain will continue to impact the South Island’s west coast, and a low-pressure system approaching on Thursday is expected to bring warm, wet weather to the North Island. Temperatures in eastern regions, including Canterbury, are forecast to climb into the low thirties by the end of the week.