January heat yet to officially top 30 deg

The former Makaraka racecourse looking parched. Picture by Roger Handford

Despite the heat and tar-melting of the past 15 days, Gisborne has yet to officially top the 30-degree mark.

Unofficial private readings taken in the shade at Makaraka have seen the mercury reach 34 degrees, but MetService’s airport thermometer has been lower.

The highest at the airport has been 29.8 — no doubt affected by the sea breeze that kicks in as rising on-land heat sucks in cooler air off the sea.

So far Gisborne’s daily temperature for the month has not been below 20 degrees, and has averaged just over 25.5.

A factor in temperatures not being high is the absence of stronger north-west winds, which would also have a dangerous drying effect on vegetation.

Despite the heat, New Zealand Fire and Emergency rate the fire risk for most of the district as “moderate”, based on data supplied by Niwa (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research).

Currently only the coastal area of Tokomaru Bay to Ruatoria has a fire risk rated as “high”, but with grasses and undergrowth rapidly drying out, the need to take care not to start a fire is being widely publicised nationally.

So far this month, rain has been notably absent — with a few millimetres only, for a grand total of 5.1mm so far.

However, in the past few days MetService’s outlook sees the end of the current hot weather, and the agency was forecasting rain and possible thunderstorms for the district, as of last night.

Further rain is expected over the week, with the possibility of heavy falls by Friday.

Meanwhile, water off local beaches has warmed to a comfortable level, with the  sea temperature just topping 20 degrees yesterday and Sunday.