The whole month to date has been a degree-and-a-half warmer than average, with the daily high at 18.6.
With the clear blue skies and sun, the ultraviolet index has started to climb, and while the daily peak is still in the moderate zone, it is not far off entering the high zone.
Yesterday’s peak was reached around midday, with a UV index of 5.4. This means that damage to fair skin can occur within 28 minutes.
The Cancer Society says this is based on what is called the Minimum Erythemal Dose — the time it takes for fair skin to start to redden, which is a sign of damage.
For Gisborne, UV conditions are considered extreme when the MED rating reaches 11, and skin damage can occur within 15 minutes.
Much of New Zealand’s exposure to ultraviolet can be related to the state of the Antarctic Ozone Hole, which had been thought to be slowly shrinking over the past 20 years.
However, this year saw the polar vortex which causes the ozone hole start to develop early in August, and it has reached 32 million square kilometres — near its largest.
At the same time scientists have measured sea ice loss around Antarctica at an alarming level, with all the factors linked, and having a major impact on the world’s weather.
Locally, despite monitoring being on the alert for another marine heatwave, the water off Gisborne beaches is still on the cool side.
Yesterday the sea was at 13.5 degrees, over half a degree cooler than the average for the time of year of 14.2.
