Temperatures hit a searing 29 degrees Celsius in Masterton yesterday, one of the hottest days the region had seen all year.
Niwa Weather predicted temperatures could be hotter than 30C in several places yesterday, including Wairarapa, making some of the hottest temperatures in New Zealand so far this summer.
It said searing heat covered parts of the eastern South Island, and its heat map showed Wairarapa had been hit too.
Niwa Weather said a ‘tongue’ of warm air would bring some of the hottest temperatures so far this summer for parts of the South Island yesterday, and then the North Island today.
“Fire danger will also be elevated, so remember to check it’s alright before you light.”
Despite the warm air making its way over Wairarapa, Niwa Weather forecast today to only reach the low 20s with a low of 10 degrees Celsius.
In February 2013, Wairarapa broke a long-held record for the highest summer temperature, skyrocketing to 33.3 degrees Celsius.
The Times-Age reported that the region hadn’t reached temperatures that high in 20 years.
“The official high recorded in Masterton on Thursday of 33.3 degrees Celsius was the highest recorded by Niwa in the past 20 years – as long as records exist.”
Solway meteorology enthusiast Graham Adam recorded a temperature of 35.7 degrees Celsius the same day, showing many could have experienced temperatures even higher.
Adam said after 2013’s record high that from 1949 to 1963, regular heatwaves adversely affected farming in the region.
“Some of the old farmers in the region in those days, after Christmas, their cattle went away to the good country. There was no grass, no feed because we had a drought and this sort of summer year after year.”
Niwa said temperatures in Masterton had been significantly higher than usual for January with an average mean temperature of 19.7C.
The heatwave had led to major concerns for farmers because feed was low, and they were being forced to sell off stock.
Niwa’s most recent hotspot watch said new hotspots had formed in early December in coastal Wairarapa.
“The driest soils across the North Island, when compared to normal for this time of the year, are found in coastal Wairarapa, while the wettest soils for this time of the year are found in southern Northland, Auckland, the Coromandel, and western Bay of Plenty.”
As of December 15, some coastal areas had soils between 40mm and 50mm of rain drier than normal for the time of year, and areas further inland saw a deficit of between 20mm and 30mm.
