Most of New Zealand to go on fire alert by February

[senorpepr]

New Zealand's weather bureau expects to put much of the country on extreme fire alert by the end of this month.

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research forecasters say the country is locked in a heatwave, with top temperatures reaching nearly 39 degrees celsius.

Senior climate scientist, Jim Salinger, says the significance of the consecutive days of high temperatures and drought is only now being recognized.

The New Zealand Herald reports the areas with top fire danger will include Northland, parts of the capital Auckland, and the entire east of the south Island.

The eastern part of the north island, the coastal Bay of Plenty and areas next to extreme fire danger zones on the south island will be on high fire alert.

The reports says changes will place more areas in the high risk category by the end of March.