Watch: Hawke's Bay region has first dusting of snow

The year's first dusting of snow came yesterday, with temperatures around Hawke's Bay dropping significantly.

Snow-capped ranges provided a backdrop for those braving the cold in Hastings and Napier - although that wasn't the only wintry weather in the Bay, with gales and heavy wind also making an appearance.

MetService issued a heavy rain warning for the Hawke's Bay hill country east of Wairoa from 9am yesterday to 1am this morning.

Meteorologist Tom Adams said Hawke's Bay was spared the worst of this weather, with Taranaki and Auckland seeing the worst, but that didn't mean the region hadn't seen any action.

Police were alerted to reports of a fallen tree blocking the south-bound lane on Railway Rd South at 3pm yesterday.

A police spokeswoman said the council was notified and the tree removed.

"A series of fronts continue to affect New Zealand, with another fast-moving system racing up the country today, followed by a brief ridge before the next front arrives on Sunday," Mr Adams said.

MetService meteorologist Lisa Murray said there had also been some thunderstorms offshore yesterday.

Napier Airport recorded 10.4C, with a wind-chill factor causing the temperature to feel more like 8C.

It also recorded gusts of 61km/h along with Wairoa Aerodrome, while Mahia Peninsula recorded 91km/h gusts.

The high yesterday was 12C, expected to plummet to as low as 7C overnight.

MetService is not expecting a repeat of the weather that hit Auckland and Taranaki over the past two days, but elements of severe weather will still affect many parts of New Zealand in coming days.

"The southerly winds will maintain the cooler temperatures, which persist through to Sunday when warmer air sweeps over New Zealand again," Mr Adams said.

"During these cooler nights, there are also many places that will see frost, especially in sheltered inland locations."

Today is expected to be fine with cloud increasing in the afternoon and a few showers from evening. There will be southwesterlies, turning northwest in the evening, with a high of 17C and an overnight low of 9C.

Fine spells increasing, with southwesterlies, strong in the morning are forecast for tomorrow.

The weekend is also looking unsettled, with a chance of more thunderstorms, gusty winds and showery rain. There will be fine spells too as a short-lived ridge moves over the country, but during clear nights watch out for frost and ice on the roads.

Mr Adams said it was "imperative to be prepared in New Zealand, especially during periods of highly changeable weather".

"Things are very mobile so things will chop and change from one day to the next, so it really highlights the importance of checking the forecast and checking the watches and warnings."