In today's weather forecast we are expecting more rain, heavy at times. Also easterlies.

It's a one-clothing layer day today with a high of 22 and an overnight low of 19 degrees. Humidity is 97 per cent.

High tide is at 8.40am and low tide at 2.40pm(Tay St). There's a sea swell of 0.5m and sea temperature is 20 degrees. Sunset tonight is at 8.33pm.

If you're going fishing the next best fish bite time is between 7 and 10pm.

On this day in NZ history in 1953 the worst railway disaster in New Zealand's history occurred on Christmas Eve 1953, when the Wellington–Auckland night express plunged into the flooded Whangaehu River, just west of Tangiwai in the central North Island.

On this day in world history in 1814 a treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain, ending the War of 1812, was signed at Ghent, Belgium. The news did not reach the United States until two weeks later (after the decisive American victory at New Orleans).

In 1914 over 577,000 Allied soldiers were to spend Christmas as prisoners in Germany.

In 1956 African Americans defied a city law in Tallahassee, Florida, and occupied front bus seats.

In 1966 a Soviet research vehicle soft-landed on the moon. In 1968 the first pictures of an Earth-rise over the moon were seen as the crew of Apollo 8 orbited the moon.

In 1974 Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, destroying more than 70 percent of the city's buildings, including 80 percent of its houses.

Today is the birthday of King John of England. Born in 1166 he once said 'There shall be one measure throughout Our kingdom.”

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

Have a great day!