Humid Taranaki finds relief in drink, swims and anti-chafing cream
"Most of the North Island is hot and sticky." MetService forecaster Cameron Coutts
Chafing cream, specialised deodorant for excessive perspiration, anti-frizz hair products and icecold beverages are selling quicker than ever due to this summer’s humidity.
Pharmacies, hair product stores and pubs have noted increased sales when it comes to people dealing with the muggy weather.
The humidity has plagued most of the country for the past few days, and MetService forecaster Cameron Coutts said it’s forecast to stick around for the next week.
‘‘It’s very unpleasant,’’ Coutts said. ‘‘Most of the North Island is hot and sticky.’’
New Plymouth City Care Pharmacy dispensary technician Shannan Fleet said products that are usually bought by bigger people or those who undertake strenuous exercise were being purchased by people merely fighting the humidity.
These included products specifically fighting sweat, rashes and smells.
‘‘People have been coming in and asking about deodorant for excessive perspiration,’’ Fleet said.
She also said the pharmacy had been selling ‘‘heaps’’ of 3B Action Cream, which prevents chafing.
Shampoo Plus manager Dianne Gibbons said she had been selling a lot of humidity blocking and antifrizz products.
She said they weren’t selling out of anything, but sales were up.
People made their way into Peggy Gordon’s Celtic Bar earlier than usual during the past couple of weeks, bar manager Sharyn Smith said.
‘‘Usually it’s late afternoon this was 1-2pm,’’ Smith said.
People appeared to be buying both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to cool down, she added..
The heat’s even called for identical twins with broken arms - Connor and Cameron Catlin-Maybury, 7 - to swim every day for the past five days.
Mother Polly Catlin-Maybury said she, her twin boys and their sister Paige, 12, have been to the Inglewood Pools every day since Saturday.
‘‘There’s been some days when it’s nice and hot and some days where it’s really sticky,’’ CatlinMaybury said. ‘‘The kids just love it.’’ Niwa principal scientist Chris Brandolino said the humidity was being caused by two things: warm ocean temperatures giving off moisture, and northerly wind bringing warmer air down from the tropics.
Brandolino said that the warmer the temperature is, the more chance there is of feeling the humidity.
He said that there could be 90 per cent humidity on a 5 degree celsius day - where it wouldn’t feel muggy at all. But on a 20 degree day with 90 per cent humidity people would definitely feel the effects.