Hawke's Bay looks like it will escape much of a cold snap that has hit most of the country and was expected to bring snow to the Desert Rd.
Rainfall throughout Hawke's Bay in the 24 hours to early last night was mainly less than 10mm and, while temperatures had dropped from those on Sunday - when Napier's 23.3C was the day's highest maximum recorded by MetService - some "recovery" was expected from later today, a spokesman for the national weather agency said.
Rainfall on the Takapau Plains this month, at about 100mm, has already exceeded the April average and Hastings is close to exceeding its April average of 71mm.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council senior scientist, climate and air, Kathleen Kozyniak said it comes after a March in which average temperatures were little different from February, and more than 1C above March averages in most areas.
Ex-tropical cyclone Pam had bolstered soil moisture levels but was "a bit selective" in where the rain fell.
