So much for the sunshine: Hawke's Bay's dreary weather to be the worst in NZ this week

Clouds rolling in over Perfume Point, which will hang around for most of the week. Photo / Paul Taylor

So much for the region of sunshine: Hawke's Bay is set for a damp and dreary week while the rest of New Zealand basks in the autumn sun.

MetService meteorologist Andy Best described the East Coast of the North Island as a "fly in the ointment", compared with an otherwise sunny country.

Monday will be cloudy, with isolated showers, especially around coastal areas, with a high of 17C during the day, and an overnight low of 9C.

It's a similar story on Tuesday, occasional isolated showers on the coast, and strong southwesterly winds, with high of 17C and an overnight low of 10.

On Wednesday the cloud should begin to clear, and Hawke's Bay can expect a high of 18C.

The overnight low on Wednesday night is expected to be 6C, meaning it will be a chilly start to Thursday.

Best said over the week, northern coastal areas, such as Mahia and Wairoa, would in particular be affected by showers, with areas such as Napier and Hastings not getting as much rain.

The last day of the week before the Easter weekend will be fine in the morning, with evening cloud and light winds and a high of 18C.

Best said much of the rest of the country will benefit from a ridge of high pressure, which means clearer skies.

Being on the eastern side of the high pressure means southwesterly winds and showers for Hawke's Bay, and other areas of the North Island's East Coast.

Best said it remained difficult to predict what Hawke's Bay's weather would be like over the Easter long weekend.