Polar blast to hit in time for weekend

Heavy seas on the coast between Clive and Haumoana. Photo / Paul Taylor

Hawke's Bay will enjoy two days of fine weather until a polar blast will send temperatures plummeting just in time for the weekend.

MetService meteorologist Nicholas Zacher said conditions will be bonnie for the next two days, before the bite of winter returns for a final farewell.

After a decent downpour on Wednesday night, the worst of the front has moved away, giving the region a reprieve from the rain.

Today will warm up to about 17C, with fresh gusty northwesterlies developing.

Early tomorrow morning will see a cold front move up from the south, dramatically dropping temperatures.

The twin cities are forecast for a high of 10C and a low of 0C, which will hang around until mid next week.

"With the cold air mass coming up, a dousing of snow is expected in elevated areas," Mr Zacher said.

The southwesterly change will bring rain and strong westerly winds.

These will increase offshore, causing choppy seas.

Winds of 45-50 knots are forecast for Castlepoint.

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

Hawke's Bay Dairy chairman 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.

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