The region is set for some relief from soaring temperatures after experiencing sweltering heat for several days.
Yesterday Masterton experienced a high of 30 degrees Celsius, while Martinborough hit the 29C mark, neither of which matched Waitangi Day’s temperatures, when Masterton climbed to 32.9C and Martinborough reached 30.8C
On Tuesday, the top temperature for Masterton was 32.9 while Martinborough reached 30.8 degrees.
“It will get hot today, too,” MetService meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon told the Times-Age, with forecast highs of 29C and 28C for Masterton and Martinborough respectively, “but in the evening, a southerly change will bring a drop in temperatures and scattered rain”.
“This weekend is looking cooler again with a cold front passing through on Sunday morning, bringing rain,”Wotherspoon said.
Wairarapa is currently forecast to have a high of 26C on Saturday and 19C on Sunday, before trending up again to 24C on Monday.
On Waitangi Day, several locals posted pictures of personal temperature gauges on social media platforms suggesting it was as hot as 37C in parts of Masterton, but Wotherspoon said she is sceptical about the accuracy of such claims.
“Meteorological standards for measuring temperature are pretty strict,” she said.
“Temperatures measured in the sun or even near a building will be drastically different from actual air temperature.
“I would be wary of temperatures from members of the public without more information.”
Northwesterly winds are driving the current hot spell, Wotherspoon said, and resulting in “really hot and dry conditions in eastern areas”, Wotherspoon said.
“Canterbury and Marlborough have also been experiencing this.
“Masterton has been more sheltered from these winds, so hasn’t been getting some of those real hot temperatures in excess of 35 degrees, but surrounding hot conditions, light winds, and summer sun can still do a lot of work.”
