It was the first significant rainfall recorded in Napier in more than three weeks, although 2mm was recorded on February 26.
The regional forecast for today was rain, heavy at times, especially about the ranges, with possible thunderstorms in the afternoon and southeasterlies, strong in exposed places.
Heavy rain was forecast through to tomorrow afternoon, easing to occasional showers in the afternoon, with continuing southerlies, strong in exposed places.
Metservice's severe weather watch covers the 41 hours from 4pm yesterday to 9am tomorrow, and says periods of rain were expected from late Wednesday afternoon through to early Friday.
The latest threat from the Pacific is Tropical Cyclone Hola, named in Fiji early yesterday. Damage has already been reported in Vanuatu and the storm is expected to reach a peak late tomorrow and on Saturday. It will possibly touch the upper North Island by the end of the weekend.
A year ago parts of New Zealand, mainly from Auckland to the Coromandel Peninsula, but also including Hawke's Bay were in the throes of a storm that became known as the Tasman Tempest.
Rainfall in much of Hawke's Bay and the Gisborne area in March last year was more than 50 per cent up on the March average.