Strong wind watch and showers for Hawke’s Bay over weekend

Wind blows palm trees on Hardinge Rd, Ahuriri, Napier. Photo / Warren Buckland

Hawke’s Bay residents are being told to tie down loose objects as strong westerly winds and showers blow over the region this weekend.

MetService has issued a strong wind watch for Tararua District and Hawke’s Bay south of Wairoa from 10am Saturday until 6am Sunday, with westerly winds potentially becoming severe gales in exposed places.

It says there is a high chance the wind watch will be upgraded to an orange wind warning.

MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said Saturday would be a “decent wind event” and recommended people tie down any loose items that could go flying.

Motorists should also take care.

Makgabutlane said showers will pass over Hawke’s Bay on Saturday, but the wind will be the weekend‘s standout weather feature.

The bad weather will stick around on Sunday as showers become more persistent and the wind turns southwesterly.

“Especially along the coast, those southwest winds look to be still pretty gusty,” Makgabutlane said.

The new week brings better weather, with most showers leaving by Monday, apart from a few around the ranges.

“We’ll still have westerlies on Monday, and they could still be a little bit breezy at times, but not as strong as what we’ll see this weekend,” Makgabutlane said.

From Monday, temperatures in the region will rise to high teens and into the 20s once again.

“Very classic spring, those strong and gusty westerlies, the swings in temperatures,” Makgabutlane said.

Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and has worked in radio and media in Auckland, London, Berlin, and Napier.