Wild weather on the way out for Hawke's Bay: 'It's certainly drying out later in the week.'

The skies appear to be breaking at Atea a Rangi star compass in Napier after days of heavy rain. Photo Warren Buckland

The wet and wild weather is on its way out for Hawke's Bay.

MetService meteorologist Dan Corrigan said a heavy rain warning was no longer in place for northern Hawke's Bay and much of the heaviest rainfall had already passed.

"The most significant weather was seen in the last couple of days and overnight Monday," he said.

"The heaviest rainfall was at the ranges around Te Ureweras where we saw triple digit amounts in the last 48 hours, with a total of more than 250 millimetres."

Parts of Central Hawke's Bay such as Waipawa and Waipukurau saw 75-80mm in the past 48 hours, while Hastings saw about 70mm, Napier 60mm and Wairoa about 41mm - most of which had fallen in the past 24 hours.

On Monday, a slip on State Highway 5 near Richmond Rd in Te Pohue meant stop-go traffic control was in place for about six hours until it was cleared at 3.30pm, a Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency spokeswoman said.

Heavy rainfall had caused a number of road closures throughout Wairoa district.

Delegated SH38 at Whaitiri Point is closed due to a slip and motorists are urged to take care while driving along Ruapapa Rd at the 1km mark due to a slip.

Hereheretau Rd and Kotare Rd at the low-level bridge are both closed due to flooding.

A 10km/h speed restriction is in place on Mangapoike Rd at the Matoitoi Bridge.

Hawke's Bay will see a mostly dry afternoon with a line of showers making its way up the east coast this evening, Corrigan said.

"It's certainly drying out later in the week."

He warned there would still be a few strong southerlies around the Bay, particularly around Wairoa and Mahia.

Winds were expected to ease throughout Tuesday.

Weatherwatch.co.nz said frosts were expected for both islands in the next two nights.

But it'll be short lived.

By Thursday night milder air moves in down south then moves northwards covering all of New Zealand this weekend.

But by Monday next week a wintry southerly will return to the country.