The summer swelter is set to take a day off on Tuesday as a southerly starts sweeping up the country.
On Monday, Wellington's airport recorded its highest January temperature since records began, at 29.5 degrees.
But that warm, moist air also gave rise to more severe thunderstorms - prompting warnings in Wairarapa and the Hutt Valley.
MetService meteorologist Dom Barry spoke to Corin Dann.
