Humidity was close to 100% at times across much of the country yesterday, with Christchurch climbing to 97% yesterday morning and Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Dunedin all above 90 or 95% a number of times during the day.

In the top half of the North Island and also Canterbury and Hawkes Bay the humidity was more noticeable thanks to warmer air, making for an incredibly damp and muggy day with torrential downpours in the north and hot and sweltering weather in the east.

Check out all the temperatures posted on our Facebook page yesterday afternoon

While some love the tropical feeling in the air, many others – especially those without any form of air conditioning – do not.

But today and across the weekend the country will be swept up in a strengthening south west flow.  The models are still unsure as to how windy it will be but for many coastal or exposed areas it may be considered a bit too brisk for a picnic at the beach on Friday or Saturday, unless you can find somewhere sheltered.

A few showers may also linger along with long cloudy spells scattered around the country.

Temperatures will take a bit of a kick today and tomorrow but nothing too dramatic although WeatherWatch.co.nz says without the humidity it may feel colder than it is compared to the ‘closeness’ of the humid air this week.

MetService is also predicting a risk of thunderstorms today around Canterbury.

A high moving in from the Tasman should settle conditions down over Sunday and Monday but WeatherWatch.co.nz says unsettled weather looks set to remain as we head into March.

– Homepage image / File, Mahia Beach, Dylan Tay

– WeatherWatch.co.nz