Chilly weekend turns to warmer week for Hawke's Bay

Alisi Aiomanu (left) and Meiata Nepia from Flaxmere College do their best to stay dry during Relay for Life in Taradale. Photo / Duncan Brown

It may have been one of the chilliest weekends Hawke's Bay has experienced this year, but luckily the region is in for some warmer weather midweek.

MetService meteorologist Stephen Glassey said the colder temperatures were partly caused by high pressure across the bottom of the South Island, causing clear and calm conditions there while directing relatively cold southerly winds over the rest of New Zealand.

"Looking ahead, warmer temperatures are forecast as the ridge of high pressure drifts north during Monday and Tuesday," he said.

While Hawke's Bay residents dusted off hot water bottles and resorted to woollen blankets and knit jumpers - Plassey said temperatures would reset to summer once again ... but not for long.

"There is some rain about coastal Hawke's Bay and that pushed inland tonight. Tomorrow will be quite a rainy day, but it will then ease off to showers by the evening.

It was Tuesday that would be the weather treasure - as the sun would finally show its face and Hawke's Bay would feel some warmth again after some stinging cold temperatures at the weekend.

"It's been a little bit strange because the maximum temperature has been a little bit colder than normal - you can get cold minimum temperatures when you have clear skies and light winds, but they didn't really do anything during the weekend. The maximum temperatures reached a high of 14C in Napier and 15C in Hastings.

"It was even colder in northern Hawke's Bay, in Wairoa it only got up to 13C."

Glassey said although Monday would be a little cooler with a high of 17C, Tuesday would see a high of 22C and Wednesday a hot 25C.

"It's going to warm up quite considerably, but there is another front coming later in the week. Although the timing is not exactly certain at this stage, but it's most likely to move in late Thursday or Friday.

"There are going to be some more cold southerlies - so it's best to make the most of the warm weather when it's there."