The humidity levels have reached uncomfortable levels in the upper North Island as ex-tropical cyclones Zelia and Vania pull down air from the tropics.
The humidity in Auckland this afternoon is around 80% with it expected to move back up to 100% again tonight.
WeatherWatch.co.nz says the humidex temperature – which measures humidex plus air temperature to create a ‘feels like’ reading – says it’s currently 36 degrees.
Many would agree that it feels that hot with numerous comments posted to WeatherWatch.co.nz saying conditions are not pleasant.
Image : 2pm MetService rain radar showing Zelia’s rain band moving into Northland and another larger rain band pushing into the upper South Island. Click the image to go to the MetService website.
Rain One reader described the humidity and wind as “torture” while another in Kerikeri described it as “yuck”.
The tropical heat isn’t confined to Auckland and Northland either, with people even at the bottom of the South Island talking about the high humidity levels.
Weather analyst Richard Green says it is one of the most humid days his Canterbury weather station has recorded in the past for or five years.
Meanwhile there is no end in sight for the humidity apart from a brief break on Thursday as a southerly comes through.
By the weekend humidity will push back in to Auckland and other northern regions with wet, humid, weather lingering until at least Monday, predicts WeatherWatch.co.nz.
Winds
Strong winds continue to push over the upper North Island as the remnants of Zelia move by. Zelia’s centre is now west of Auckland but has significantly fallen apart since daybreak.
The winds will continue to slowly rise but WeatherWatch.co.nz no longer predicts severe gales in the upper North Island with Zelia tracking too far offshore. Last night the cyclone, still category 3, began to dramatically shift course, but this morning it has moved back on track and is now expected to die out while merging with the new larger low covering all of New Zealand.
Gale force northerlies remain at Cape Reinga with gusts to 80km/h.
Near gale force winds are also affecting Auckland Harbour but gusts in the city are around 60 to 70km/h.
Temperatures (not including humidex)
Meanwhile it’s hot and humid in Wanganui and Palmerston North, where temperatures have reached 29 and 31 degrees respectively.
Gisborne has 30 and Auckland, Wellington and Paeroa share 27.
Lower Hutt has 29 degrees.
Despite the humid flow over the South Island most main centres are between 17 and 21 degrees.
– WeatherWatch.co.nz
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Guest on 18/01/2011 3:15am
Hey guys “felt” like 32 in masterton at 3pm its YUCK!! please say we have rain coming so to cool it down even a little!!!
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Guest on 18/01/2011 3:00am
It was a sticky one here in Invercargill especially when the temp was hovering around the 25 degree mark. Now there’s some light rain and hardly a breath of wind.
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Dave on 18/01/2011 2:48am
Max 24.6C today in Howick (eastern Auckland). Amazingly high dew point – max of 23.7C. Would have felt far worse if the sun had been out or the wind was calm.
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Shane on 18/01/2011 2:39am
I’m in Auckland, North Shore. I can’t get over how dark it is – it reminds me of an English Winter.
Then I go outside (from the aircon at work) and BAM, it’s like Hong Kong out there. Very strange.
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Guest on 18/01/2011 2:31am
When do you guys expect the winds in places such as kerikeri to ease?
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WW Forecast Team on 18/01/2011 2:29am
For anyone who posted a comment in the past 30 minutes you will need to resend it due a technical glitch – apologies!
– WeatherWatch Admin
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Guest on 18/01/2011 2:25am
When do you expect the winds to ease in places such as Kerikeri?
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David - New Brighton on 18/01/2011 2:11am
…currently overcast with a light eastery breeze, continous moderate rain, 16.5 deg C, RH 90%, 991.0 mb and falling….remarks rainfall 7mm since rain commenced 9.40am this morning.
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David - New Brighton on 18/01/2011 3:03am
Ovcst with a light easterly breeze, cont mod RA , 16.5 deg C, RH 90% plus! 989.0mb steady..
remarks: 14.0mm rain since 9.40am….heaviest daily rainfall [ so far] since early August 2010 for this station]…8 – ]
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David - New Brighton on 18/01/2011 4:17am
Ovcst with a light easterly breeze, cont light ot mod rain, 16.5 deg C, RH 90% plus, 986.5mb and falling slightly…remarks: 22.0mm rain since this morning and now heaviest daily total since late May 2010….
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