Weather

I'm still getting used to the weather reports here.  Instead of the huge land mass in US weather reports taking up the screen, they all start here with a big blue ocean with a teeny-tiny couple of islands in the middle.  They show animations of pressure systems, storms, and spend quite a while telling us about ocean currents. 

Then they report the weather for the cities across the country.  It is disconcerting for me to get such a thorough report for the ENTIRE COUNTRY in just a few minutes, but when the country is the size of Oregon, I guess it's not that hard.

Temperatures are warmer in the north, of course, and also on the west sides of the islands.  I'm guessing the Tasman Sea must get some warm water from Australia, while the open ocean to the east can pick up those cold currents.  The high for Auckland today is 24.  (That's 75F.)

It rains frequently, usually only for an hour or so at a time.  Yesterday, though, it really poured all day long.  Along with the rain, there are often overcast skies and moisture in the air.  Most Americans would probably find it dry and pleasant, but it feels muggy after a few years in the desert.

Today's weather report also included a story about how tomorrow is National Jandal Day.  Jandals are flip-flops, thongs, whatever you want to call them.  Jandals are affectionately derided as a sloppy affectation of a layabout beach bum.  (Wonder what they'd think of Angelenos wearing flipflops year-round, with any outfit.  Oh, yeah, layabout beach bum.  Pretty much.)