The tropics have come to northern New Zealand with humidity at 100% for some.

WeatherWatch.co.nz is picking an overnight low around 21 degrees in Auckland tonight.  At almost 10pm it was 23 degrees with 96% humidity – creating a ‘feels like’ temperature of 32 degrees.

Near Whangarei it’s currently 22 degrees with 100% humidity – creating a ‘feels like’ temperature of 31 degrees.  When humidity reaches 100% it means the air is completely saturated – meaning sweat cannot evaporate from your skin.

In contrast during Hawkes Bay’s recent record breaking heatwave humidity levels were just 7% at one stage. 

Higher humidity levels mean temperatures feel much hotter than they are – which is why WeatherWatch.co.nz uses the humidex to create a ‘feels like’ temperature – it’s a far more accurate way of measuring how hot it’s going to feel on any given day – especially across northern New Zealand in summer.