Due to the strong winds in coastal areas a storm warning had been issued for Portland, which runs from Cape Turnagain in the south to Cape Runaway in the north.
A southwesterly flow will bring high seas reaching southwest 50 knots tomorrow morning, ticking the storm warning criteria.
This will also bring large swells with the southwest swell rising to four metres.
"The sea will become rough for a time on Monday so it won't be good weather for people wanting to go out on boats."
Hawke's Bay Civil Defence group manager Ian Macdonald said they had been monitoring swells on Friday as although the height of 2.5m was not huge there had been a 14.5 second interval providing for a large run-up.
He said they kept an eye out but had no issues on Friday or any during the weekend.
Boardwalk Restaurant site manager Tom Nicholle noticed a strong high tide at Ahuriri today with the sea coming right up on to the front premise across the boardwalk outside the restaurant.
Mr Nicholle said this was the heaviest he had seen the tide since last winter.
"It normally takes away half the beach but this time it came right up so I had to get out the broom and sweep the sand off to make sure the outside of the restaurant was tidy."
Despite a cold and rainy start to the week Mr Best said things should look brighter by late tomorrow.
He said any remaining showers should clear Tuesday afternoon and the southerly should turn northwest.
"By Wednesday there will be clear skies, light winds and lots of sun."