Local authorities and emergency services were last night playing a waiting game as Hawke's Bay was enveloped by wet weather, forecast to last a week in some areas.
While a severe weather warning was issued about 8.30pm for the Gisborne region, forecasters were saying there was "some uncertainty" about likely rainfalls, but people should be on alert for rapid rises in streams and rivers, along with slips and surface flooding.
Neither Police nor the Fire Service reported any problems up to mid-evening, and a Hawke's Bay Regional Council manager said forecasts had not reached the "warning" stage.
It had been more than 16 hours since the last of only two calls to the Fire Service in Hawke's Bay yesterday, both early-morning false alarms, and police were unaware of any road closures on the region's highways.
Rain fell in most areas throughout the day. and local forecasts for the next week predict rain everywhere on the East Coast from Hastings north every day until next Tuesday. Dannevirke was expected to see some fine weather by Friday.