Flippin’ awesome! Time to hit the beach
Don’t pack away those sundresses and shorts just yet.
After what has felt like one of the worst Wellington summers in decades, MetService’s forecast has raised hopes with 10 days of mostly warm sunshine.
The fine run started yesterday with a high of 24 degrees Celsius, and the forecast shows temperatures lingering just a few degrees lower into the start of autumn in early March.
MetService meteorologist Lisa Murray said: ‘‘There’s still a chance to get to the beach this summer. We’re definitely going to be dry and we will definitely see plenty of sunshine.’’
Though it would be a strong finish to the bummer summer, the capital was unlikely to top its record high of 30.6 degrees from February 1982.
While January was a washout, Murray said February was not the worst we had seen so far, and part of the negative perception might come down to having enjoyed particularly good summers over the past couple of years.
Oriental Parade’s Carrello del Gelato store owner Nathan Meyer said overall sales were down 30 per cent this summer on last year. But the Italian-style icecream maker said people were making the most of the few hot days this year, with business on sunny days higher on average than last year.
‘‘If it’s a good day, we’re up on last year. It’s just down to the weather.’’
McKenzie Baths lifeguard Josh Tainui said at the outdoor public pool in Petone, Lower Hutt, the weather had been so chilly that some days people had had the pool to themselves.
‘‘Even days where it’s been sunny, we’ve had extreme wind and it’s still cold. We’ve probably had, this summer, three days that were like the last.’’
Both businesses were hoping a bright end to summer would deliver a boost.
With today looking hot, tomorrow a bit windy, and cloud from a southerly change clearing Thursday and Friday, this working week and the weekend were looking good.
Brief drizzle may mar the start of next week, but the sunshine is set to linger into March.
Meanwhile, the Kapiti Coast – though splashed with a bit of drizzle – was also looking crisp, with extended periods of sun over the next fortnight.
Wairarapa can expect to be peppered with a few showers and cooler nights.