Sunbathing in June? Christchurch basks in warmth while weather warnings hit elsewhere

Saturday, 20 June 2026

MetService said Christchurch recorded 24.7C at 1pm on Saturday, smashing the record for warmest June day, which was 22.5C in 1988. Records began in 1943.

Christchurch basked in a record-breaking 24.7C on Saturday, with some residents heading to the beach to sunbathe.

The temperature smashed the city's previous June record of 22.5C, set in 1988, while Ashburton also set a new June high.

The warm, windy conditions kept firefighters busy across Canterbury, before temperatures are forecast to drop down to about 12C on Sunday.

Sunbathing on the beach in June? That's exactly what Christchurch residents were doing on Saturday as unseasonably warm temperatures swept the city.

It was warm enough for residents to sunbathe in Christchurch on Saturday.

The city experienced a high of 24.7C, smashing the record for the warmest June day, which was 22.5C in 1988, MetService said. Records began in 1943.

Canterbury’s warm weather, paired with strong winds, made for a busy day for firefighters, with vegetation fires in Hawarden, Mount Culverden, Kirwee, Rolleston, Gebbies Valley and Waiau.

Canterbury residents enjoy New Brighton Beach.

Ashburton also beat its previous temperature record (21.7C in 2024), with a high of 23.8C at midday on Saturday.

A major weather front divides the nation, bringing orange heavy rain warnings and wet conditions across the South Island, while high pressure keeps the North Island mostly dry and fine for the start of the weekend.

The weather in Christchurch is expected to dip back down to 12C on Sunday.

Meanwhile, MetService issued rain and wind warnings for the lower North Island, including the Tararua Range, Wellington and the Wairarapa.

Severe gales up to 120kph were forecast in exposed places in the capital from 3pm on Saturday until 3pm on Sunday.

Heavy rain and strong northwest winds were expected across much of the South Island.

Temperatures around the country as of midday Saturday.

An orange heavy rain warning was in place for Buller and Grey districts until Sunday.

Canterbury lakes and rivers south of the Hurunui River were expected to see more heavy rain on Saturday too, with an orange warning in place and thunderstorms possible.

The Otago lakes were under an orange heavy rain warning until later on Saturday.

In Marlborough and the Kaikoura ranges, a strong wind warning remains in place, with severe northwesterlies gusting up to 130kph in exposed places.