Capital weathers another dismal day

ROSS GIBLIN

HAIR RAISING: Beth Copsey, 16, left, Rumer-Grace Archer, 15, Nikki Byron, 16, and Minami Osawa, 16, get new hairstyles at Freyberg Beach.

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You call this a summer?

Howling gales, torrential rain and a dark curtain of clouds has been the common thread in the capital this holiday season, with the sun opting to make its appearances elsewhere.

While other parts of the country have basked in warm, seasonal weather, Wellingtonians have been treated to day after day of wind or rain.

Yesterday was fairly typical – strong wind warnings, 130kmh gales recorded at Mt Kaukau, heavy rain and rare sightings of the sun. The temperature struggled to get out of the teens.

Yet in Hawke's Bay, the mercury topped 33 degrees. In Auckland, it hit 26, in Christchurch, 28 and in Palmerston North, 25.

Even Dunedin managed 23 yesterday, matching the hottest temperature Wellington has reached so far this summer.

For those in the summer business, the weather has been a curse.

"Business this summer has been absolutely dismal," said Barry Ludlow, 58, operator of the Mr Freeze mobile icecream shop at Frank Kitts Park in central Wellington.

Last month was his second-worst December in a decade.

At Ferg's Kayaks on the waterfront, the kayaks have remained in storage most days.

"We have been very, very limited. I can't remember the last day that we have put them out," staff member Marley Merton said. "It's just hideous, this weather."

It's not about to get much better any time soon. The 10-day forecast for the capital features just one day of sun – every other day suffers some form of weather indignity, whether it be rain, showers, drizzle, cloud or wind.

Forecasters are promising better things to come but, for those about to return to work after a gloomy holiday, it is too little, too late.

"Wellington traditionally has its best weather in January and February and that looks like being the case this year," MetService forecaster Ian Gall said.

Wellingtonians can justifiably feel hard done by.

The temperature has topped 30 in Gisborne, Napier, Christchurch and Ashburton with some regularity since summer began.

In contrast, there were 14 rainy days in the capital – the sun shone on just three of the first 12 days in December.

Mr Gall said the average temperature in Wellington last month was 15.4, down one degree on that month's average.

According to Mr Ludlow, who keeps weather charts to tell him when the icecream eaters will return, things won't get any better until January 14. "That's about when it always comes right."

For the record – rain is forecast for this morning. Again.

Coming Up - Today: Early rain then fine. Tomorrow: Cloud then fine. Wednesday: Increasing cloud. Thursday: Cloudy with northerlies strengthening. Friday: Rain, northerlies. Saturday: Showers, southeasterlies. Sunday: Showers. Monday: Fine, northeasterlies. Tuesday: Partly cloudy.

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