Hawke’s Bay frost risk as Hastings temperature set to drop below zero on Saturday

It may feel more like winter in Hawke's Bay on Saturday morning as temperatures drop and the risk of frost rises. Photo / Duncan Brown

Expect to hear frost fans firing up in earnest over the next few days in Hawke’s Bay.

Temperatures early on Saturday in Hastings are expected to drop below freezing, with Napier dropping to 1C.

MetService meteorologist Ciaran Doolin said a front was moving up the North Island on Thursday.

Following it, a southwesterly flow was expected to develop across the country, which would be followed by a ridge of high pressure moving across from the west.

“We’ve got cold air with those southwesterlies and then they’re easing into the overnight period,” Doolin said.

“So cool air, settled conditions, that’s a good combination for fairly cool overnight temperatures ... a pretty cold Friday night by September standards.”

Doolin said the settled cold conditions brought a risk of frost developing on Saturday morning.

However, Saturday’s cold start would make way for “pretty nice conditions” for the rest of the weekend.

Hastings was expected to be fine on Saturday, with a high of 14C as northeasterlies developed, while similar conditions were likely in Napier, with a high of 15C.

Such temperatures were not cold for the time of year, Doolin said.

“In fact, it’s sort of slightly above the September average, especially Sunday.”

On Sunday, Hastings and Napier would have partly cloudy conditions with a high of 19C and lows of 10C and 11C.

After the weekend, Doolin said temperatures in the region were expected to increase, with highs touching the low 20s from Monday onwards, with sunny weather.

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