Deco weekend to be a 'scorcher'

HMNZS Wellington, a 1900-tonne offshore patrol vessel, arriving into Napier Port in time for Art Deco week. Also in port, cruise ship Carnival Spirit. Photo / Duncan Brown

Parents watching their children in today's Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids Hastings TRYathlon may need to take their umbrella.

Occasional rain will fall today underneath high cloud, however it will remain warm with a high of 29C.

The event at Frimley Park is still going ahead despite the closure of the pool. The swim will now be replaced with an extra run leg.

MetService communications meteorologist Lisa Murray said the Bay was one of the few places that would escape the brunt of the downpours currently saturating the country. "There is a very active system over the country at the moment and it is bringing a lot of wet weather mainly to the west."

Ms Murray said the pattern of muggy weather would continue until Saturday.

Rain would clear late Friday with strong gusty northerlies easing and temperatures hitting 30C which was good news for Deco devotees. The HMNZS Wellington, a 1900-tonne offshore patrol vessel arrived into Napier Port yesterday in time for Art Deco week. Passengers on the cruise ship Carnival Spirit would have also seen a few flapper dresses around town.

The Bay's biggest weekend of the year - The Art Deco Festival - was set to be a scorcher.

"The weekend will be mainly fine, there will be a light southerly breeze but who can complain about that."

Temperatures during the day will be in the late 20s.

Ms Murray said while the cities may not see a lot of rain, most of the precipitation will fall in the ranges. She said there was a severe weather warning out for the Kaweka Ranges which could spread to the Ruahine Range.

She warns people who may think the weather's not that bad not to go off tramping in the ranges.