“Be patient where vehicle access to beach and parks will be busy,” said a council spokesperson.

“Long Bay Regional Park is not closed, but has reached vehicle capacity due to the hot weather we’re experiencing.”

“There is no issue with water quality at almost all Auckland beaches and swim spots, though people can check safeswim.org.nz/ to be make sure for themselves.

“We encourage people to explore other locations to find a place to cool off, and be patient where vehicle access to beach and parks will be busy.”

MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane told the Herald that temperatures remain on track to shatter current heat records, with northwesterly winds from Australia already pushing highs past 30C in several regions by midmorning.

“Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti Gisborne are still looking to be some of the hotter places in the country,” she said.

“Once those northwesterlies hit the coast, that’s when we’re expecting the temperatures to ramp up.”

Multiple heat alerts are in place today across the country, alongside an “extreme” fire risk.

Most at risk of breaking high temperature records today are Whangārei, Whitianga and Napier; the latter’s January record of 36.9C in 1979 being only 0.9C above today’s forecast of 36C, the MetService said.

Auckland is among those to see its forecast high rise to 29C.

Forecast temperatures have been rising all week, with the MetService saying some areas – including Northland, Coromandel and Hawke’s Bay – could break January records today.

The scorching heat and strong winds this weekend sparked concerns about both fires and a rise in water-related incidents after at least two people drowned in separate incidents yesterday.

MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr said it’ll be dry with these northwesterlies, particularly in northern Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay, and Gisborne.

“Those are the areas that we’re focusing on for high risk of fires.”

He urged caution for people planning barbecues in the next few days.

“Anything that’s lit, sparks can fly and get driven quite a long way and start fires,” Kerr said.