Fine weekend forecast in Bay

Hawke's Bay is the place to be this long weekend with temperatures warming up over the next few days. Photo / Paul Taylor

Hawke's Bay may prove one of the best spots in the country during Queen's Birthday Weekend, weather forecasters say.

MetService meteorologist John Law said residents could expect a fine and relatively warm long weekend.

"One of the best spots to be is Hawke's Bay," he said.

The region is out of the weather woods for the time being, after huge, 6m swells swells pushed waves over the Rotary path in Napier on Wednesday.

A big low-pressure weather system had been driving the heavy seas between East Cape and North Canterbury, with Wellington hit hardest.

But a high-pressure system has taken over, heralding warmer days.

Although a "really cold start" was expected this morning, with an overnight low of 1C-2C in Napier and a possibility of frost in inland areas, the day was expected to turn out a cracker.

"It's another chilly start [today], but overall it looks like a great Friday. Winds will be northwesterly, which is not a bad direction for you guys.

"You'll see temperatures picking up throughout the weekend, although there might be some high cloud arriving on Sunday and maybe some spots of rain on Monday."

Hawke's Bay had been experiencing clear, calm and cold nights, with residual air from a polar blast that rocked the country on Tuesday. The overnight low was a teeth-chattering 0C in Hastings yesterday, and today it was expected to be -1C.

But temperatures would gradually increase during the long weekend, with today's daytime high of 14C climbing to 18C on Monday.