Record heat 2018: Hottest January in more than a Century

[JennyLeez]

Temperatures expected to reach high 30s over the next week across New Zealand.

The first month of this year is poised to be the warmest month New Zealand has ever had since records began in 1909.

Preliminary data is showing the country's average temperature for the first 23 days of the month was 19.85C - more than 2.72C higher than the current record.

Niwa meteorologist Chris Brandolino said if temperatures held for the remaining eight days, long-standing records were likely to be smashed.

Climate scientist Dr Jim Salinger is going one further, calling it a done deal and saying we are experiencing firsthand the hottest month in generations.

The current record warmest month dated back almost two decades to February 1998 with an average high of 19.61C.

Another record that looked set to tumble was the difference from the average temperature, which dated back just after the Depression. That record was set in December 1934, when the difference from average was 2.67C.

"If things hold for January 2018 you would have the warmest temperature on record of any month and the largest difference from average ever," said Brandolino.

NIWA Weather
@NiwaWeather
Jan 2018 is tracking to be NZ's warmest 🔥month on record (since 1909)

•  Jan 2018 (to 23rd) mean temp 19.85°(or +2.72°)
•  Current record warmest month (absolute temp): 19.61° - Feb 1998
•  Current record warmest month (anomaly): +2.67° - Dec 1934
•  Data is preliminary

More at NZ Herald:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11981839

Map below captured 4.47pm 25th January 2018.

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