Unusually hot weather may be on the way, with MetService warning above-average temperatures are projected across much of the country for the coming days. In Southland, Invercargill was forecast to be 4.1°C hotter than usual tomorrow with occasional showers, while heavy rain and thunderstorms were expected to hit Fiordland from 2pm. Heavy rain watch for FiordlandDespite the largely clear weather, some areas of of both islands were still due patches of rain and thunderstorms. A front was also expected to move across areas of the lower South Island during the second half of tomorrow and early on Friday. MetService has issued a heavy rain watch for western areas of Fiordland, about and north of Doubtful Sound, and Westland, south of Haast River, from 2pm tomorrow until 6am on Friday.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 07, 2026 11:18 UTC