Showers, hail and thunderstorms likely as weather turns in Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay is just one of many regions to endure dull drizzle for the rest of the week.

Residents should keep their eyes to the skies and have an umbrella handy as the Metservice has predicted thunderstorms, localised downpours and possible hail today.

The mixed bag of weather was the result of a low-pressure system which moved in from the Tasman Sea on Tuesday producing showery conditions and periods of rain until Thursday.

"We've got some warm and humid air right down to surface level," says meteorologist Angus Hines.

"Higher up in the atmosphere it's a little cooler, so we don't have those warm temperatures the whole way as we go up the atmosphere.

"Those are quite good conditions when you get that warm air underneath some cooler air, much like when you see that warm air rising off the road, when you get some sort of turbulent vertical mixing which is quite good for shower activity."

Hines said the entire North Island was expecting showers today as well as localised thunderstorms.

"It's the kind of thing where some places are going to see some pretty intense short, sharp, heavy rainfall but some places are really not going to see a whole lot of it.

"There will be a different spread throughout the region, but Hawke's Bay is definitely in the mix for some showers.

"There is a risk for thunderstorms this afternoon and with those there could be some heavy downpours of rain and potentially some hail as well."

Hines said the thundery theme would loom over Hawke's Bay for the remainder of the week and possibly the weekend.

"Throughout the weekend, there could even be some showers as well but, in general, it does look like the weather will be easing a bit.

"I wouldn't rule out being dry for the entire weekend-but it does look like there will be some fine stretches of fine weather there too."