Concern over summer conditions raised

HEATING UP: Hawke's Bay is set for a warm spell this week, although isolated showers may keep conditions from becoming too dry, as they were in Hastings yesterday. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR.

While showers are on the horizon this week, looking further ahead has raised concern the coming summer could be as dry as this years.

A lack of rainfall and tinder dry conditions this past summer meant there was a total fire ban throughout the region.

Despite this, emergency services spent the season battling numerous fires which spread due to this dryness and strong winds - from large scrub fires, to some which damaged homes.

Yesterday a Napier Fire Service spokesman said they had heard concern about conditions this summer replicating last years, but they were not sure how likely this would be yet.

Dry summers were "always a concern" for the fire service, he said.

With Guy Fawkes coming up, he reminded the public to be "well aware" of fire safety, and that even though grass might look healthy, this did not mean it was not dry underneath.

The way fire restrictions are put in place could change this summer, as some rural fire authority now comes under Fire and Emergency New Zealand - which was formed in July.
FENZ did not respond by the time of print.

With summer still a month away, Metservice has not yet compiled their long range forecasts for the season.

However meteorologist Claire Flynn said they were expecting this week to be mainly fine with temperatures reaching 20C - although the heat could bring the potential for some isolated afternoon showers inland.

There would be some morning cloud today before becoming fine, however scattered afternoon and evening showers were expected to develop inland and about the ranges.

There would be lights winds, but northeasterlies about the coast.

Tomorrow was forecast to be similar, with areas of morning cloud, clearing to a fine day and northeasterlies.

By Thursday the temperature would begin to rise to 21C, with fine weather expected and increasing high cloud.

More high cloud was expected on Friday with scattered rain for a time and northerlies picking up, with a high of 23C.

Temperatures this weekend are set to reach 26C on Saturday, and 24C on Sunday, with both days expected to be fine.

The rest of the country was likely to experience similar weather this week, Ms Flynn said.

Information from last week's Hawke's Bay Regional Council climate briefing stated that depending on the behaviour of the ridge of high pressure sitting to the south/southeast of the country, rainfall could be expected to be near normal or slightly above from November to January, with the possibility of downpours breaking up spells of highs.