Front expected to bring heavy rain

Fog covered the Bay all day yesterday and more rain is on the way. Photo / Warren Buckland

The Bay is set for a week of relentless rain and chilling cold.

Metservice meteorologist Nicholas Zacher said there was "plenty more rain to come" as a front moves slowly down the country.

The region was expected to get the heaviest downpour overnight and this morning.

There will be a slight reprieve this afternoon but with a low-pressure wave developing along the front, the rest of the week will be a wet one.

Winds will increase this evening and strengthen to north westerly gales later today.

"Napier will have a high of 18C today and, with moist tropical air hovering around, it will feel humid," Mr Zacher said.

Another front is heading up from the south and will reach the region early tomorrow morning.

The south westerly change will bring rain and strong westerly winds.

Temperatures will plummet to freezing overnight in time for the weekend.

An overnight low of 0C is forecast for Saturday.

MetService advised people to keep checking the Metservice website for changes and updates.

Hawke's Bay Dairy chairperson and federated farmers provincial vice-president Nick Dawson said the rain was a welcome sight for local farmers.

"It's great, we could do with a lot more."

Mr Dawson said the Bay has experienced its driest winter on record since 2003.

"Not a lot of pugging occurs when it's dry but at some point you need to top off the tanks."

He said a good downpour just before spring was great for local farmers.