Hawke's Bay locals who attempt to hang out their washing in balmy temperatures today, may lose it in gale-force winds.
MetService meteorologist Emma Blades said it would be "warm, but very, very windy" for the rest of the week, as a severe weather warning was in force due to wild winds.
Today is expected to be mainly fine and warm, with high cloud, some brief showers about the western ranges and a sweltering daytime high of 30C.
Hawke's Bay has enjoyed a good run of summery temperatures this week. Hastings was ranked the hottest city in the country on Monday, at 27.4C, with Napier trailing a few degrees behind and ranked number five at 24.6C.
The higher temperatures were due to the Foehn effect, which occurs when air mass becomes dry and warm as it passes over the ranges as part of a westerly wind flow.