"Quite significant" swells of up to 4.5 metres are expected to hit Hawke's Bay tomorrow morning after a southerly storm brought gusts and showers to the region today.
MetService meteorologist Tui McInnes said a swell warning was in place for the entire Hawke's Bay coast, from south of Cape Kidnappers, where 3.5m waves were possible) to Mahia Peninsula, which can expect 4.5m waves.
"That's quite significant wave height and it might not be what you see because waves can grow bigger as they build towards the coast."
McInnes said the waves were expected to be at their highest tomorrow morning - after the southerly storm had had time to stir up the sea.
No wind warnings were in place for Hawke's Bay today but gusts of 80km/h in exposed places like the Mahia Peninsula were possible, and a gusty and showery evening was likely across much of the region as the stormy conditions rolled in.