In today's weather forecast we are expecting a fine start, but showers from the late morning, possibly heavy and thundery. Also northerlies.

It's a three-clothing layer day today with a high of 16 and an overnight low of 9 degrees. Humidity is 95 per cent.

Low tide is at 12noon and high tide at 6.10pm (Tay St). There's a sea swell of 0.7m and sea temperature is 19 degrees. Sunset tonight is at 8.06pm.

If you're going fishing the next best fish bite time is between 10am and 12noon.

On this day in NZ history in 1863 the British captured Rangiriri. More British soldiers were killed at ‘Bloody Rangiriri' than in any other battle of the New Zealand Wars, but their victory opened the Waikato basin to the imperial forces.

In world history on this day in 1783 Jean de Rozier and the Marquis d'Arlandes made the first free-flight ascent in a balloon to over 500 feet in Paris. In 1904 motorized omnibuses replaced horse-drawn cars in Paris.

In 1911 suffragettes stormed Parliament in London. All were arrested and all chose prison terms. In 1917 German ace Rudolf von Eschwege was killed over Macedonia when he attacked a booby-trapped observation balloon packed with explosives. In 1918 the last German troops left Alsace-Lorraine, France.

In 1967 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the air quality act, allotting $428 million for the fight against pollution.

Today is the birthday of Voltaire (Francois-Marie Arouet), French philosopher, historian, poet, dramatist and novelist. Born in 1694, he once said "Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers."

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

Have a great day!