Residents wrap up as Hawke's Bay temperatures plunge to 7C high

Thompson's Suits woollen jerseys have been flying off the shelf as winter settles into the Bay. Photo / Warren Buckland

Plummeting temperatures have sent residents into a shopping frenzy. Hawke's Bay withstood a bitter high of 7C yesterday, with temperatures sitting in the single digits for the rest of the week.

Electric blankets and flannelette sheets have been flying out the door as overnight temperatures are expected to sit between 6C and 0C for the rest of the week.

A spokesperson for Briscoes Hastings said winter sales have rapidly increased since the weekend, with blankets and sheets most popular among consumers.

"Winter blankets are walking out the door both yesterday and today, heaters are selling well, and all our flannelette sheets have also been selling like hotcakes."

"Sales started pretty slowly, but since the weekend, everything seems to have taken off."

Hastings retailer Thompson's Suits has had a similar experience, with consumers rushing through their doors to beat the cold.

Staff member Leighton McKay said winter sales were slow at the beginning of the season, but now that's no longer the case.

"Our clothing sales started off a little slow because the weather has been so warm. But since the temperatures dropped, we're getting a lot of people walk through the door and we're also getting a lot of phone calls as well.

"A lot of people are looking at our jerseys and also winter shirts, they're definitely going for the woollen side of things," he said.

"It really is amazing what's happening now that the weather has changed, we do a lot of seasonal buying, so it's really picked up more, both yesterday and today in terms of winter sales."

MetService meteorologist Melissa Oosterwijk said the cold temperatures were in no rush to make a move.

"Unfortunately it's not looking great in terms of temperature, we've got a southerly flow which is quite cold and it's not going anywhere for the next couple of days, so it's going to remain consistently cold," she said.

"Yesterday there was a lot of rain in the Hawke's Bay region, mainly in the north, it was pretty consistent around the Kaweka Ranges and in Mahia.

"Today is also looking like it will be raining and then clearing up precipitation-wise. So when it's not raining there will be fine breaks in between, there's not going to be any heavy rain," Oosterwijk said.

The region will have to withstand the southerly winds for the rest of the week before a high makes its way towards the region.

"It's moving very slowly which is why the low is remaining so consistent. The high is staying over to the west at the moment. If it was slightly further across it would be really lovely for Hawke's Bay."