Warmer, windy, no polar blasts

Temperatures reaching nearly 20C are expected in the last week of winter.

With high temperatures, strong winds, and rainfall, the last week of winter is expected to be an interesting one for Hawke's Bay.

The final 10 days of winter would end on a more spring-like note, WeatherWatch reported, with no nationwide polar blasts in the picture and a return to windy westerlies.

Metservice meteorologist Tom Adams said as a ridge of high pressure moved over the country the week was shaping up to be a "pretty interesting weather event".

"The country as a whole is looking at some unsettled conditions. It's looking a bit warmer than average for the coming week, and especially after the cold snap at the start of August it will feel a lot warmer."

As well as temperatures reaching nearly 20C, light spots of rain were expected early in the week followed by heavier rainfall, and the possibility of severe gales to end the week.

WeatherWatch said the week was expected to begin with sub-tropical northerlies pushing some places well above average for one of the coldest times of the year, such as Napier, with an expected high of 16C. High cloud was also expected today, with a few spots of rain developing in the evening and northeast winds.

There would be a few morning showers tomorrow, before becoming mostly fine. A southwest wind would die out later in the day.

On Wednesday a few showers would develop with a southerly change, and winds turning northeast later.

A southerly change would bring "a reasonable amount of rain, and strong wind", to the Bay later in the week, with the possibility of some severe northwest gales.

On Thursday there would be scattered rain developing with strengthening northerlies.