Thursday saw the thermometer soar during the morning before a build up of cloud after midday halted the rise at 13.35 with a maximum of 30.4C, which was 8.1C above the 34-year average. The thermometer hovered around 30C for most of the afternoon. The previous record of 34.5C was set in July 2006.
The afternoon of Thursday saw strong gusts of wind from the south as the air became less stable with localised storms moving north to the west and east of Marlborough.
A very mild night followed with minimum of 14.9C, which was 3.1C above average.
Friday dawned with strong sunshine, after the clearance of cloud near the horizon, that boosted the temperature to 20.3C at 08.00.
A change in the weather is approaching as the barometric pressure has been dropping and at 08.00 is at its lowest this month.
Update at 16.00: maximum temperature of 28.0C at 15.04, down 2C on the Thursday peak but 5.3C above average. Less heat due to increased levels of cloud and thus reduced sunshine.
