Come on in, the sea's fine

Thomas Moller, 4, is all kitted up for some serious swimming at Takapuna Beach with water-wings, goggles and snorkel. Picture / Martin Sykes

Easter started with thunder and lightning, but to Thomas Moller's delight, by Sunday the weather had rallied enough for a swim at Takapuna Beach.

Decked out in all the latest gear - water-wings and a snorkel - 4-year-old Thomas, from Birkenhead, hit the waves with brother Kaleb and sister Kelsey.

Their father, Brett, said the family usually went to Long Bay and had a barbecue as well, but the weather looked a bit dodgy so they settled for Takapuna.

"Summer seems to be starting later and going on longer. We'll probably be swimming for another month or so, I imagine."

Nearby, Arthur Grabczewski was watching his son Daniel, 4.

"I'm from Poland, where the Baltic Sea is about 16 degrees. This is 19 or 20 degrees, so we will be swimming until May probably."

MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt was not surprised. He said the sea was always at its hottest in March, and was just beginning to go off its peak.

"February, March and April are the warmest months for the sea. It makes you think we should have an extra month of daylight saving to enjoy the sea while it's at its best."

He said March temperatures had so far been typical. The first three weeks had been warm, until the thunderstorms hit on Friday.

Although the weather had warmed up since, the cold front that would follow the thunder was still lurking in the Tasman and would visit Auckland today or tomorrow.

"The colder southwester will be coming through, so hold on to these warm days. But we should have some fine anticyclones coming after that. Early April looks like it will bring most of the country fine, dry weather."

Next year Easter will be around three weeks later - April 14 to 17 - and most likely a lot colder.