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Source: ONE News/Close Up -
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December 1 marks the beginning of summer in New Zealand but there are questions about whether it should.
In Europe and North America they use the summer solstice or longest day to mark the beginning of the season.
Wellingtonians were dressed more for winter than the first day of summer on Tuesday which leaves some people wondering if December 1 should be the start of the season.
Maybe New Zealand would have more summery skies if, like in the northern hemisphere, summer began from the summer solstice around December 20 when New Zealand has the longest day.
"Because there's more extensive heating during daylight around geometrical summer then you'd expect the conditions to be warmer on average and that's what happens," says Professor Denis Sullivan, an astronomy expert.
One of the capital's summer pools has been open three days but on Tuesday there were no takers.
"It's sitting at about 17 degrees so yip brave is a good word for it," says Ann Hammond from Khandallah Summer Pool.
But, while this might not be the start to summer most of us would have liked, in a couple of months some areas could be crying out for rain.
"Eastern North Island and through Bay of Plenty are places we really need to keep an eye on in terms of drying out and even possible drought," says James Renwick from NIWA.
And there is no silver lining for the rest as an El Nino strengthens.
"South-westerly winds will be a bit stronger than normal and that means in a lot of places a lot cooler than normal or at least not hot hot hot," says Renwick.
