South swelters as temps top 30 across Otago

After weeks of seemingly endless rain, a burst of spring heat has come to us care of warm currents from Australia - which are forecast to continue.

Temperatures have been reaching the mid-to-high twenties in many areas of New Zealand through the week, with Dunedin and Central Otago pushing into the early thirties, MetService meterologist Andy Best says.

• Busy with blazes as heat hits South

Clyde, Alexandra and Windsor all recorded their highest, or equal highest November temperature on record. 

According to Metservice, Dunedin reached 30 degrees at about 4pm with temperatures continuing in the high 20s as evening approaches. 

Tomorrow is expected to be even warmer in Alexandra, with NIWA forecasting the third hottest November day in New Zealand history at 34.5 degrees. 

Warm temperatures in Australia are pushing across the Tasman Sea, bringing hot air that is giving us an early taste of summer

These highs are unseasonably warm for this time of year, and the heat is expected to continue into the week ahead, he says.

Today's highest temperatures are expected in the South Island, except Westport, which misses out. Then the heat boost is forecast to travel up the country through Sunday and into Monday.

Although the top temperatures expected during the coming week are not likely to be as unusually high as the last few days, Mr Best says "it'll still be warmer next week than average".

 - Additional reporting RNZ