By Juliet Speedy
In a summer that has been marginal at best for most South Islanders, some unusual conditions have been prevailing in a most unexpected place.
Better known for its huge rainfalls, the West Coast has been enjoying a run of brilliantly fine, warm, golden weather.
Following a string of days with some of the highest temperatures in the country, West Coasters are laughing all the way to the beach.
Days of soaring temperatures is rather unusual for the West Coast, they’re more used to being warned of an incoming deluge than boasting the country’s top temperature.
“I only move over here last year and I think it rained every day,” says sun-seeker Glenda Shearer.
“Since I came back at New Years I think we’ve had two days of rain.”
While the rest of the country experiences a rotten summer, Greymouth is now into its third week without rain.
Even the tourists are noticing it.
“We didn’t expect to have this weather in New Zealand,” said one group, from the Netherlands. “We were actually preparing for worse.”
Weather Watch says the dream run is not over yet.
“The forecast at this stage shows the hot weather is likely to remain to the end of the weekend,” says spokesman Phillip Duncan.
“Next week more of a westerly to come back, but it is definitely going to remain sunny and dry down there for at least another 10 days.”
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