Dry skies appear to cover almost 100% of the nation this Wednesday and not much in terms of showers are expected anywhere really this afternoon or tonight.

A ridge of high pressure which isn’t overly strong but is enough to keep any other system moving in for now is either providing blue skies and sunshine or low cloud in a few eastern places.

Winds are generally non existent or gentle so there’s a 50/50 chance of those with overcast skies seeing it peel away this afternoon. Often a breeze helps it to disperse if it’s been hanging for a period of time.

Temperatures are set to be warm to very warm over central and northern areas of the North Island, basically the same areas that have seen some heat this week( from Northland down to Manawatu and from the Bay of Plenty down to Taupo in central regions) but also the South Island is beginning to creep up in terms of mercury readings.

Auckland has had a significant run of blue skies lately and even if a few clouds pop up from time to time the first fortnight of the month has been particularly sunny.
Auckland isn’t alone with this as western areas of both islands plus central locations have basically continued where they left off from the previous month.

Biting insects thriving in dry spell

A damp start to summer followed by a prolonged spell of dry weather has provided perfect conditions for biting insects.
Mosquito, flea and bedbug populations are thriving, prompting a surge in sales of repellent.

Some pharmacies have reported business doubling since 2011/12 and one has recorded a 300 per cent increase in two months.
Christchurch-based repellent manufacturer Skin Technology has recorded its highest sales ever.Chief executive James Fraher said that was despite most people believing the risk of being bitten is lower in dry conditions.
“Hot, dry weather can create ideal breeding conditions for biting insects. As wetlands, marshes, mangrove swamps and other naturally damp areas dry out, mosquito larvae flourish in the warm, shallow, stagnant pools of water that are left behind.”

Darren Labrum, who owns Wellington Pest Management, said business was booming.
“The key for all insect survival is the night temperature, so because it hasn’t really been below 10 degrees for a long, long time, the numbers have increased a lot.”

WeatherWatch