The stress reliever that Hawke's Bay farmers needed has arrived. Photo / Paul Taylor
The stress reliever that Hawke's Bay farmers needed has arrived. Photo / Paul Taylor
Hawke’s Bay farmers are celebrating and holidaymakers are moaning as rain moves across the region.
The sun and warmth is set to return for New Year celebrations, but some strong winds could come with it.
Federated Farmers Hawke’s Bay provincial president Jim Galloway said Monday’s rain over Hawke’s Bay wasa welcome relief for local farmers after a dry period.
“It’ll be millions of dollars is what it’ll mean, and a lot less stress.”
Galloway said it was great to get water over farmers’ crops and into their dams, even though some pasture was already too far gone to regrow.
“In some areas, the dams are just so low that this may not put much in them to really make them last that much longer, but it’ll help.”
MetService had an orange heavy rain warning in place for the region until 5am on Tuesday.
By that time it expected 90-130mm of rain to have fallen across the region, with peak rates of 10-20mm/hour in the afternoon and heavier bursts of 25-35mm north of Wairoa.
As a precaution, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council opened the bund on the lowered crest at the Wairoa River bar on Monday and the Nūhaka River mouth on Sunday.
Nūhaka River mouth being opened by Hawke's Bay Regional Council.
MetService meteorologist Katie Lyons said the tail end of Monday’s wet weather would start to ease off from Tuesday morning, but it wouldn’t completely clear up.
“There are still bits of rain or showers about, but nothing particularly heavy, and it is an easing trend sort of going through to the end of Tuesday.”
Wairoa would have rain, heavy in the morning, she said, before becoming scattered and clearing to fine throughout the day on Tuesday, with a high of 26C and easterlies in the morning, turning northerly through the afternoon.
Napier and Hastings would have southerlies turning northeasterly in the morning with highs of 28C and 29C.
Waipukurau would also have early morning heavy falls clearing to fine throughout Tuesday, and easterly winds turning northerly.
On New Year’s Eve, Lyons said Hawke’s Bay would be sheltered from a northerly flow travelling over the country, but cloud will develop and rain will hit some spots.
“I can’t promise clear skies.”
However, Lyons warned that winds in the region will be the thing to look out for.
“The winds are at the strong end of moderate, so that perhaps could influence whether people will let off any fireworks.”
Hawke’s Bay is currently in a prohibited fire season, and a Fire and Emergency spokesperson said the use of fireworks is prohibited over New Year’s Eve, except planned and controlled public displays, despite the rain.
“Fireworks are well known to start fires in conditions Hawke’s Bay is currently experiencing.
“All it takes is one spark for a devastating wildfire to spread.”
New Year’s Eve in Wairoa would be fine apart from isolated showers with a high of 28C and strong northerlies in the afternoon.
Napier and Hastings will be fine with northeasterly winds becoming strong for a time in the afternoon and a high of 28C and 29C.
Waipukurau will be fine apart from some isolated showers with northerly winds becoming strong for a time in the afternoon and a high of 26C.
Lyons said Hawke’s Bay would continue to be sheltered from the northerly travelling across the country on New Year’s Day, but some cloud and a few rainy spots could spoil it for some, and the strong winds could make life hard for those putting up or taking down tents.
Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and has worked in radio and media in the UK, Germany, and New Zealand.
