In today's forecast we are expecting fine spells, with a chance of afternoon showers. Southwesterly developing.

It's a three-clothing and one-windproof layer day today with a high of 15 and an overnight low of 5 degrees. Humidity is 80 per cent.

Low tide is at 11.10am and high tide is at 5.40pm. There's a sea swell of .3m with a sea temperature of 15 degrees. Sunset tonight is at 5.43pm.

If you're going fishing today the best fish bite time is between 9.30 and 11.30am.

In NZ history on this day in 1878 the Wellington steam tram service opened. The governor, the Marquess of Normanby, formally opened the new service, which was said to be the first in the southern hemisphere.

In world history on this day in 79 Mount Vesuvius erupted destroying Pompeii. In 1349 six thousand Jews were killed in Mainz after being blamed for the bubonic plague. In 1456 the printing of the Gutenberg Bible was completed.

In 1814 British troops invaded Washington, D.C. and during the Burning of Washington the White House, the Capitol and many other buildings were set ablaze. In 1891 Thomas Edison patented the motion picture camera.

In 1932 Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the United States non-stop - from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey. In 1991 Ukraine declared its independence from USSR.

Today is the birthday of anti-slavery movement leader Theodore Parker. His words would later inspire speeches by Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Born in 1810 he once said "Never violate the sacredness of your individual self-respect. Be true to your own mind and conscience, your heart and your soul."

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!