The big sweat hits Auckland

Auckland locals hoping for a respite from the hot, sticky weather are out of luck, according to the Metservice.

The muggy weather which has clung to the Auckland region in recent days shows no sign of abating with a forecast of over 90 percent humidity predicted for the region this evening.

This morning the areas of Whangaparoa and Awhitu both recorded a very sweaty 100 percent humidity, with Auckland city sitting on an uncomfortable 91 percent.

Metservice forecaster Peter Smith said such high levels of humidity only occur a few times a year.

“Generally for a person it will feel hotter if you have a lot of humidity – especially overnight as the humidity stays in the air”, he said.

“For example in Auckland yesterday at midday it was 27 degrees with humidity of 60 percent, however last night you’ve got cooler temperatures but humidity round most of the Auckland area was up over 90 percent and that can make it feel very hot.”

While the regions on the East Coast had been experiencing soaring temperatures in the late 30s, areas like Auckland that experienced lower temperatures but a high level of humidity could also feel very warm, he said.

An Auckland Briscoes employee said anyone hoping for cool relief from their mega store was out of luck.

"We sold out of fans in December - even before Christmas ... was finished.

"Everyone is still coming in screaming for them, but I think you’ll find that lots of other retailers have sold out as-well. It’s really hot, we’re boiling here even with the air-conditioning on."

When Stuff.co.nz contacted an Auckland branch of The Warehouse, an employee said that they were also running low on stocks of fans.

"This heat is just so hot, we keep ordering them in but they just go so quickly. We nearly sell out almost every day," she said.

"It seems like everyday it gets hotter and today is so muggy- so lots of people will be coming in again I think."

Roger from Accord Air-conditioning and Heating said he was seeing high demand from people wanting to cool down.

"It’s the humidity that is the big issue here (in Auckland); we don’t get high temperatures here - you just need to look at the television news to see that- but it’s the humidity that gets to people."

- © Fairfax NZ News