Summer sun takes its toll

Forecasts of possible strong winds in parts of Hawke's Bay today were yesterday being overshadowed by the realities of summer as sunburn victims traipsed through medical centres and pharmacies for something to ease the pain.

The problem was highlighted by pharmacists Peter Bailey and Gary Mellett at Gahagan's Pharmacy, one of about 26 shops which opened for New Year's Day trading in Napier's Emerson St shopping precinct yesterday.

"There's lots of sunburn," Mr Bailey said. "And some of it's really bad, it needs treatment."

Mostly it was through people not taking enough care, and some was "stupid".

People were not preparing properly, and needed to use sunblock before heading out into the sun, and also apply it regularly later in the day.

Mr Mellett said some people were possibly not appreciating the hottest parts of the day had at times been in the late afternoon.

For example, yesterday's forecast maximum of around 27C in Napier and Hastings wasn't expected by the MetService to happen till close to 6pm. The forecast for today is even hotter at a maximum of 30C in Hastings.

Forecasters were saying yesterday that protection was needed for most of the day, at least from 9am-5pm.

Northwesterly breezes were bringing wafts of pine pollen and posing problems for the seasonally allergic, but according to the MetService they could bring other problems for the region later today.

A severe weather warning issued by the forecaster for parts of the South Island was extended yesterday to include areas north to Central Hawke's Bay, "where there is likely to be a brief period of very strong northwesterlies late tomorrow or early Thursday morning".