What winter? Matariki Friday brings warmer than normal temperatures

Christchurch’s beaches were “crazy busy” with people enjoying warm mid-winter weather, but in Kaikōura temperature surpassed 20C.

Temperatures right across the country were warmer than usual for Matariki Friday, and many Cantabrians were spotted taking advantage of the day – hitting the surf, walking up hiking trails and running through playgrounds.

Kaikōura recorded a temperature of 21.4C near the airport, which was almost double the month’s highest average temperature of 11.7C.

Christchurch recorded a high of 15c on Friday, “definitely warmer” than the city’s average maximum temperature for July of 11.5C, said MetService forecaster Stephen Glassey.

Manager of Sumner Social Seaside Bar and Restaurant Louise Allan said she regretted wearing jeans to work on Friday, as she was rushed off her feet with customers on a “beautiful day”.

“The beach is absolutely packed today. There are massive kites being flown out there, we’re packed, and car parks are hard to find,” she said.

It was a similar story at New Brighton beach, with lots of people “enjoying the weather” on a “crazy busy” day, Salt On The Pier manager Selvi said.

Glassey said much of the country recorded “warmer than average” temperatures for July on Friday, which is “typically the coldest month on average”.

“We’ve got a westerlie wind flow covering the country, so eastern parts of New Zealand are seeing mainly fine and drier weather, and western parts of the country are seeing more cloud and some showers as well,” Glassey said.

Blenheim, Napier and Gisbourne were close to cracking 20C and all recorded highs of 18C.

Glassey said Christchurch’s weather was in stark contrast to a moment in history on the same day 78 years ago.

On July 14 1945 Christchurch experienced one of the biggest snowfalls of its history when 28cm of “very heavy snow” fell on the city.

It was the heaviest snowfall ever recorded in Christchurch at its time, according to NIWA meteorologists.

Looking ahead, a MetService severe weather outlook report said there’s a low chance for warning amounts of rain on Sunday in the west of the South Island from Buller to Fiordland, and western Southland and Stewart Island.

Additionally, winds are expected to strengthen for a time during Sunday and there is a chance that a number of wind warnings could be in place.