Can Kiwis only get sunburnt in summer? Does every region get snow? Could lightning strike in the same place twice? Those are just some of the weather-related questions puzzling Kiwis.
Weatherwatch has come to the rescue, on Tuesday busting several mystifying weather myths they're frequently asked about.
Sunburn and snow
There's nothing worse than getting home from a long day outside in the summer months and finding your arms are bright red, burnt and stinging. But can you only get sunburnt in summer?
Weatherwatch says you can get sunburnt anytime of the year, but it's common in summer because the ultra violet (UV) rays, which are what damage the skin and lead to burns, are stronger.
"In NZ we often hear of people being sunburnt on a sunny winter's afternoon just sitting at home outside," Weatherwatch says.
And don't think that patch of cloud overhead will always protect you. While clouds can limit the UV rays, the level of protection depends on how thick the clouds are and how much UV gets through.
"For example, if it's pouring with rain all day you won't likely get sunburnt! But if it's only high cloud, or small/thin clouds, then the UV rays will easily penetrate through to your skin and still be able to burn you, even if it looks mostly cloudy. Many people in summer can get sunburnt on 'cloudy' days."
On the other end of the weather spectrum, there's snow. But surely that's not something Kiwis in Auckland need to worry about?
While it's incredibly rare, the forecaster says every region in New Zealand can receive snow.
"In 2011 snowflakes not only fell in some parts of Auckland but they settled in some areas for a time too. Further north, the ranges in Northland on the boundary of the Far North, had snow. The Kaimai and Coromandel ranges get snow on the summits most years – we just don't always see it because of the thick bush cover."
Weatherwatch says seeing snow in Auckland and Northland may only happen once or twice in a lifetime. With climate change, that "may even become a thing of the past".
'Fine' weather, high pressure systems and temperatures
When you're listening to the weather forecast, you may hear meteorologists describe conditions as "fine", but does that always mean sunny weather? Not necessarily, says Weatherwatch. It usually means "settled and pleasant", which could be calm and dry, but also cloudy.
"Whereas a sunny day with strong winds isn't considered 'fine'. WeatherWatch.co.nz doesn't actually use the word fine in our forecasting due to the confusion with how some people interpret it."
According to Metservice, the term 'fine' means the sun casts sharp shadows.
"If cloud is thick enough to stop the sun from casting sharp shadows then, even if it doesn't rain, we don't think that's a fine day."
It also changes with the seasons, Metservice says.
"In the summer months the sun is stronger and even if there is a lot of thin or high cloud it can still manage to cast sharp shadows," it says. "Also, if cloud does block the sun for short periods of time we are less likely to notice because the air is warmer; in fact, it might feel like a relief for a short time!
"In the winter when the sun is weaker it may struggle to cast sharp shadows, and the day will feel cooler. If the sun is blocked by cloud, even for a short time, then it can affect the temperature more significantly and make you feel colder."
Another question Weatherwatch tackled is whether a high pressure system always means dry weather. It says this is partially true because a high limits how big clouds can grow to produce rain.
"But in the right conditions high pressure can bring showers/drizzle - especially in winter when calm overnight conditions form fog and low cloud - which can create a microclimate using the 'mild' sea waters around NZ to produce localised drizzly cloud."
When the weather is humid, thunderstorms can develop, while a high may also end up in a position where it creates what is called an "atmospheric river". That's when a "moisture-rich flow of air in the atmosphere" is on the edge of the high.
"The high pressure zone can encourage the flow to curve around into one place causing flooding, in the same way a hill can make water go around it and flood certain places nearby."
Is it correct that there's no populated places in New Zealand that stay below 0C across the day? That's a myth, says Weatherwatch.
There's a few places that can stay sub-zero all day.
"Parts of Alexandra in Central Otago can have daytime highs below 0C and freezing fog too. Twizel and Queenstown are close contenders, as are Waiouru and Ohakune in the North Island's Central Plateau. But for the most part, NZ warms up above freezing temperatures in the middle of the day even in the depths of winter."
In 1972, Lake Coleridge had a daytime high of -5C, while in July 2018, the Ruapehu Chateau had a high of -0.5C.
Extraordinarily, Ranfurly in Otago had a maximum of -21.1C in 1903, according to frost expert James Morrison.
"In fact, Ranfurly also had highs of -15C and -20C that month. They also had 18 consecutive days where the temperature didn't rise above freezing!"
Storm terminology and lightning
Ever wondered what the difference is between a hurricane, a typhoon and a cyclone? Weatherwatch says it's "mostly true" to say they are the same thing as they are all tropical storms, but there is a difference depending on location and the direction they spin.
A hurricane forms in the Atlantic and in the Pacific Ocean north of the equator and east of the International Date Line. They spin anti-clockwise. A typhoon, while also spinning anti-clockwise, forms west of the International Date Line in the Pacific. That's why tropical storms near the Americas are referred to as hurricanes and those in Asia are called typhoons.
"Yes, a hurricane that forms in the eastern Pacific and crosses westwards over the International Date Line then becomes a 'typhoon'."
A cyclone forms in the south Pacific and Indian Ocean and spin clockwise.
It's also a myth that lightning never strikes twice in the same place
"Lightning frequently hits the same place many times. Ask the top of Sky Tower for starters!"
