Weather Watch

AUCKLAND BEACH DAY CRASHES AND BURNS DUE TO BLOODY WEATHER

Local beachgoers left reeling after sunshine turned to showers faster than you can say 'soggy chips'.

By Sharon Ngatai, Riccarton Correspondent · Mt Eden · 4 weeks ago

It was shaping up to be a classic Auckland beach day until the weather decided to throw a tantrum. Locals at the beach could only watch in disbelief as the sun, which was shining just five minutes prior, was abruptly replaced by a drenching rain that had more wind than a rugby forward running with the ball!

Esther from Papatoetoe said she couldn’t believe her eyes. "I thought I was going to get a tan today, but I ended up looking more like a drowned rat!" she exclaimed between shivers. The mischevious clouds rolled in so quickly, one might think they were trying to mug the sun for its rays.

As families packed up their soggy picnic blankets and left the beach, others keenly lamented the unpredictability of what Aucklanders dub 'four seasons in one day.' Barry from Grey Lynn was particularly incensed: "I drove all the way from the Shore, and now I’m just a wet sock in flip-flops!" Passersby offered sympathetic nods while desperately trying to find shelter from the sudden downpour.

Back at the local café, baristas were serving up hot drinks faster than we can say 'traffic jam on the motorway'. A few locals joked about how the only thing that could save the day now would be a good pair of gumboots and some serious sarcasm!

So, Auckland, keep your umbrellas handy and your sunglasses closer — you never know when Mother Nature might pull a fast one. Bloody classic!

Reader Letters

Linda Chen

Gotta love Auckland weather! It's like nature's rollercoaster, and I didn't even sign up for the ride. At least the soggy beach day makes for a good story at the pub later.

Janice Walsh

Every summer it’s the same! We plan for a sunny beach day, and end up getting dunked on. Maybe we should start planning rainy picnics — then we'll trick the weather into being sunny.

Barry

Linda, if you think the weather's a rollercoaster, try buying cheese at the supermarket these days! And Janice, planning rainy picnics would just mean we actually get the one dry Saturday we get all year. Wayne, mate, maybe you're right about building character, but what we really need is to build a bloody proper drainage system. This city's as rooted as a tree in a cyclonic wind.

Wayne Patterson

I say it builds character. If you're not prepared for a sudden shower, are you really an Aucklander? Just embrace it, I'd say—or at least have fun getting soaked, like when we were kids!