Sunshine set to give way to storms

HOT TIP: Late afternoon winter sun flooded Flaxmere Park at the weekend.PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

Hawke's Bay is in for a tumultuous week, with stormy yet warmer-than-average weather expected across the region over the next five days.

MetService meteorologist Claire Flynn said the weather would change halfway through the week, turning from fine days to days of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms.

Some areas of Hawke's Bay, particularly those near the ranges, were expected to get up to 20mm of rainfall throughout the week, while central areas were forecast to receive about 3mm to 5mm.

Ms Flynn also said the week's high temperatures, which could go even higher than forecast and move into the low 20s, were higher than average for this time of year which was because of winds coming down to Hawke's Bay from the north.

This morning, Ms Flynn said some areas of cloud were expected, left behind from a southerly change that arrived yesterday, but these would clear and the day would be mainly fine. Northerlies would also begin to develop in the morning, with a high of 17C.

Tomorrow was also expected to be mostly fine, Ms Flynn said, with some potential high cloud about the ranges, and some northerlies with a high of 18C.

A change in the weather would hit the region on Wednesday, as a system which is affecting eastern Australia moves over the country.

Ms Flynn said there would be rain throughout most of the region, which would be heavier around the ranges, with some heavy and possibly thundery falls later. Northerlies would become strong in exposed places. However, the day's high would reach 20C and the overnight low would be only 11C.

About 5mm to 10mm of rain was expected over Wednesday night.

Ms Flynn said Thursday was expected to be "a similar story" with rain across the region and possible thunderstorms about the ranges. The northerlies, which would be strong in exposed places, would ease later.

The week would end with showers and winds turning southwest, with the week's lowest temperature, 3C, expected overnight.