Temperatures to fall somewhat on Friday

Friday is expected to offer some respite to the relentless heat over the past three months with some isolated summer showers in the mountains and possibly inland.

The temperature inland is forecast to come in at 36C with some cloud cover, 31C along the western coastline, 32C on the south and east coasts and 29C in the mountains.

On Friday night the temperature will drop to around 24C inland and along the coast and will fall to 18C in the higher mountains.

The forecast for Saturday is similar.