The run of hot weather over the long weekend is coming to an end for most of the South Island

Christchurch reached a sizzling 29 point degrees yesterday.

Dunedin and Kaikoura both hit a near record high of 29 point six degrees -- about 16 degrees above normal for this time of year.

But MetService forecaster Gerard Bellam says those temperatures are going to plummet to the low teens today and tomorrow -- with a cold front sweeping up the South Island.

He says there's a heavy rain warning out for Westland, the Canterbury lakes and rivers, and the Otago headwaters of those lakes and rivers.

Rain is forecast in Wellington, while most other North Island centres an expect a cloudy day.