Temperatures in the mid thirties and severe storms with possible small tornadoes are gripping the South Island of NZ this weekend.

The mercury at Christchurch has exceeded 36 degrees for some parts, with the city reaching upwards of 34 degrees. This is 13 degrees higher than the December average of 21 degrees.

This heat has created extreme fire danger ratings over many districts in the Canterbury region. Christchurch had their driest November in 150 years and are having 44 days in a row with no rain. The record for longest dry spell will likely be matched on Sunday with 45 days without rain. The last time this occurred was back in 1954.

As the cool change moves through this weekend, severe storms are a high risk to pop up along the west coast of the South Island. These storms may bring heavy rain, small hail and even the possibility of small tornadoes.

The strong cold front moving in behind the initial change will also bring storm force winds greater than 90km/h for parts of the south coast. Temperatures will fall below average for the start of the working week across NZ.

I had a phone call from some friends who live on the Northern tip of the South Island, they said that having 30 deg in N.Z. was equal to getting 35 deg here in Aussie, They should know as they lived in Sydney and here in the West for some years.

K.J.