21 Feb 2017

Summer finally arrives in Wellington

2:17 pm on 21 February 2017

Settled, sunny weather seems to have finally arrived in Wellington, which has had its worst summer in three years.

Wellingtonians made the most of the hot weather at Days Bay, Lower Hutt on 20 February.

Wellingtonians made the most of the hot weather at Days Bay, Lower Hutt yesterday. Photo: Supplied / Brooke Sanders

Just as Wellingtonians were bemoaning the loss of summer, a late burst of sunshine has turned things around.

The temperature peaked at more than 26 degrees in part of the capital yesterday, the warmest so far this summer.

Today, beachgoers were out in force on Oriental Beach by 9.30am. The city hit 21C by midday and was expected to reach 22C.

A wind change was to thank for the "spectacular" weather, MetService meteorologist Lisa Murray said.

She said the humidity surged yesterday too, which was uncommon in Wellington.

Eden Christie works at Shake on the waterfront, which sold plenty of ice-cream and rented out dozens of bikes yesterday.

Eden Christie working at Shake on the Wellington waterfront.

Eden Christie working at Shake on the Wellington waterfront. Photo: RNZ / Max Towle

"The last couple of days the sun has come out and and it seems everyone has come out too - they all want a milkshake or an ice-cream or a pedal," she said.

"It definitely hasn't been our busiest summer so far, but New Zealanders are pretty hardy so there are always people who want to go out cycling."

Lisa Murray said the highest temperature recorded in February in Wellington was 30.6C in 1982.

Ashburton had the national high at lunchtime today, sitting at 29.7C.

The good times in the capital are set to continue. Ms Murray said the 10 day forecast showed almost no rain on the horizon.

"Wednesday is looking good as well, just a bit of cloud coming in later in the day," she said.

"Thursday will have some cloudy periods and there may be patches of drizzle up in the suburbs, while things are looking good on Friday and Saturday when the cloud should clear."