After a warmer than normal March, Hawke's Bay autumn set to be a 'rollercoaster'

The calm before the storm: Hawke's Bay weather is expected to turn to custard over the weekend so enjoy the sun while you can. Photo / Paul Taylor

If March was a "summer month" across Hawke's Bay, April is shaping up as a proper autumn "rollercoaster", forecasters say.

Niwa meteorologist Ben Noll said March was warmer than average across Hawke's Bay with temperatures routinely in the 20s and occasionally close to 30C.

Mahia recorded its second warmest March on record with an average temperature across the month of 18.5C, and Waipawa recorded its third warmest with an average temperature of 17.4C.

However April will be cooler and wet, Noll says, starting with this weekend.

"March was like a summer month, instead of autumn," he said.

"April is starting off on a wet note, with a wet weekend, dreary and unsettled.

"By the time the rain ends on Tuesday, 25-50mm rain in total would have fallen across Hawke's Bay.

"It would be beneficial rain for parts of the region which have been dry for some time."

He said April will be a "rollercoaster" of a month.

"Saturday to Monday the temperatures will be somewhat cool with a southeasterly wind and temperatures will range from highs of mid to low-teens, and low of about 10 degrees Celsius.

"Tuesday and Wednesday next week will be milder again.

"We are not expecting really warm temperatures in April. They will stay between late-teens and low-20s."

Going into May the region is expected to get an increase in westerly winds.

"It is expected the region will have a drier end to autumn and the start of winter."