The strongest gust was recorded as 107km/h at Takapau Plains, while Napier Airport was battered by winds between 90km/h and 100km/h for most of the afternoon.
Metservice meteorologist Chelsea Glue said the severe gale west to northwest winds began to ease yesterday evening and had calmed by this morning.
A ridge of high pressure would whip light winds across the region until tomorrow, she said. Winds are forecast to strengthen again from Wednesday through until Friday, but Ms Glue said they won't reach the severity of yesterday's gales.
The "unseasonably" warm temperatures over the weekend, which reached 22C at Napier Airport on Saturday, would begin to cool as the strong winds left the region.
Today was expected to be fine and strong westerlies would gradually ease. Frosts are likely and the overnight temperature will be about 4C.
Rain is expected to develop in the morning tomorrow and heavy falls are possible about the ranges, but will clear in the afternoon leaving cloudy periods.
The day's high will be 13C and the northwesterlies will die out for a time.
Wednesday will be mainly fine but northwesterlies will pick up. The high temperature will be 18C.
Occasional rain is expected mainly about the ranges on Thursday and there will be strong northwesterlies.
Friday will be mainly fine with strong northwesterlies and a high of 16C.
