Bay spared capital's deluge

Stormy skies background golden leaves on a vineyard near Hastings. Rain is predicted in the region's immediate forecast. Photo / Paul Taylor

Hawke's Bay is being spared the storm that devastated the Wellington area yesterday, although rain is forecast for the weekend.

MetService expected rain throughout most of New Zealand today, with thunderstorms in the north and west of both islands, extending through the weekend. Fine weather is expected to appear again in Hawke's Bay on Sunday.

More heavy rain had been forecast for Wellington and the Tararua and Ruahine ranges overnight, but nothing significant was forecast for Hawke's Bay. Farmers would welcome some precipitation as rainfall is below the May average in most areas. Historically, significant rain can be expected over the next three weeks.

Federated Farmers Hawke's Bay provincial president Will Foley said his own Takapau-Onga Onga area is "doing quite well" after 10-15mm of rain earlier this week but some other areas are looking for immediate rain.

"We need a decent dump of rain to really replenish the ground water, and fill the creeks and dams during the winter."