Merry Christmas to you.  We here at WeatherWatch are hoping you’re enjoying your day and wish you happy and safe New Year.

This Christmas has been a warm and sticky one for many areas.  Air temperatures combined with the persistent mugginess can make things a wee bit uncomfortable.

Here in the Waikato, we’ve seen on and off sunshine.  Right now temperatures are in the mid 20s.  But with the muggy conditions and that strong December sunshine, it feels closer to 30.

Reports from around the lower North Island have also talked about some sunny and warm conditions today.  Ian Phillips in Wellington called it “a stunner” today.

Andrew Blair in Levin reported at temperature of 27.4 at around 10:30am.  He also said the relative humidity was 57%.  That’s pretty muggy.  By the way, for you dew point fans, that’s a dew point of about 18.

There was rain to be found around New Zealand too.

Lace Griffiths said it was raining, very windy and cold in Tauranga this morning.

Ron Cribb reported rain in West Auckland this morning.

Janine Gray said the thunder was rumbling in Bulls with a temperature that had already cleared the 30 degree mark.

Temperatures in the main city centres this afternoon included 28 in Hamilton, 26 in Dunedin, 21 in Christchurch, 21 in Auckland, 21 in Tauranga and 21 in Wellington.

By Howard Joseph, WeatherWatch.co.nz