Heavy fog blanks out coastal sights

A blanket of white fog blanked out the sights from atop Bluff Hill yesterday. Photo / Warren Buckland

A number of flights were grounded throughout the North Island yesterday due to fog, which also blanketed Hawke's Bay and did not lift until mid-afternoon along stretches of Napier's coast.

Locals took to posting on social media about the fog, some questioning the sound of fog horns which could be heard as ships navigated the waters.

The fog lingered until about mid-morning in Hastings but the misty air did not deter people from going about their day with many taking to the streets for their morning exercise and some surveying the white blanket from the the top of Te Mata Peak.

MetService meteorologist Claire Flynn said the steep drop in temperature overnight, which typically caused condensation, and little breeze contributed to the fog.

Yesterday temperatures peaked at 16C in Napier and Hastings with residents in both places waking up to a temperature of 5C this morning.

The mercury will drop one degree in Napier today at 15C and residents can expect a warm winter night at 10C.

Hastings will drop to 14C today and hit the same overnight temperature of 10C.

The meteorologist said cloud was increasing in town today with a low pressure system moving in off the Tasman across northern parts of the North Island.

Hawke's Bay typically experienced westerly winds, she said, but as the weather front approached the westerlies would be replaced by northeasterlies and eventually turn easterly.

Meanwhile, a severe weather watch is in place for Friday morning, continuing into Saturday with heavy rainfall forecast about the region.

This watch means there is the possibility that rain could fall in amounts of greater than 100mm in 24 hours.

The weather watch extends to Northland, Gisborne, Nelson, Buller and Westland.

The MetService website says the weather watch is a developing situation and further areas are likely to be added today.

Without any wind, a bank of fog remained over parts of the coast of Napier for most of the day.

A strong southerly is set to move into the region on Friday, adding to the wet conditions which are expected to hang around until Sunday when the showers are expected to finally start easing.

Senior Sergeant Nick Dobson of Eastern District Police advised motorists to drive to the changing conditions.

"In conditions where there is reduced visibility such as foggy conditions, police remind motorists to reduce their speed and increase their following distances," he said.

"Motorists should also use dipped headlights, even when there is fog during the day, to ensure they are as visible as possible on the road."