In today's weather we are expecting rain developing in the morning, with a chance of it being heavy and thundery, and easing towards the evening.

The northwesterly should be dying out overnight.

It's a three-clothing layer day today with a high of 17 and an overnight low of 10 degrees. Humidity is 99 per cent.

High tide is at 10am and low tide is at 4.20pm. There's a sea swell of .3m with a sea temperature of 16 degrees. Sunset tonight is at 4.59pm.

If you're going fishing the next best fish bite time is between 3.30 and 5.30pm.

In NZ history on this day in 1932 long-distance walker Esther James reached Bluff. The Aucklander, a well-connected former model, had left Spirits Bay in the far north on December 3 to walk the length of the country to promote New Zealand-made goods during the Depression. She had government patronage and support from the Manufacturers' Federation.

In world history on this day in 1667 the Dutch fleet sailed up the Thames River and threatened London. In 1812 the War of 1812 began when the United States declared war against Great Britain. In 1815 Napoleon Bonaparte of France was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo.

In 1918 Allied forces on the Western Front began their largest counterattack yet against the German army. In 1928 Amelia Earhart became the first woman to cross the Atlantic by airplane.

In 1979 President Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev signed the Salt II pact to limit nuclear arms. In 1983 Sally Ride became the first American woman in space.

Today is the birthday of songwriter and singer, and member of the Beatles Paul McCartney. Born in 1942, he once wrote "Buy, buy, says the sign in the shop window; Why, why, says the junk in the yard" and "Think globally, act locally".

To get involved in some of the many activities happening around the Bay, please check out our What's on page.

Have a great day!