Big wet sets in over Hawke's Bay

Heavy rain caused a slip on the Napier-Taupo road yesterday, closing one lane.

A slip that closed one lane on the Napier-Taupo road yesterday signalled the extent of wet weather forecast to linger over the region for the rest of the week.

New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) Central Region media manager Anthony Frith said the slip along State Highway 5, near the Mohaka River, blocked one lane after heavy rain in the area, but no major incidents had been reported. "Certainly nothing has happened that has caused any major disruptions to traffic."

The slip starts a week where the MetService forecast for Napier and Hastings indicates the region will receive rain and showers until Friday, with a fresh easterly this morning and showers returning in the evening. A high of just 13C will be reached in Napier with 14C the max in Hastings.

MetService duty forecaster Leigh Matheson said the easterly flows tend to break down once they reach Hawke's Bay, however, periods of rain were expected, particularly on Thursday. "There is a trough running through on Wednesday, while western areas will receive the most rain, Hawke's Bay will have a continued arrival showers," Ms Matheson said.

"Thursday will have rainy periods with the front coming through, however, Friday is looking pretty good."

She said the temperatures will rise as the week progresses with the mercury rising to the high teens by Friday.

Tomorrow Napier and Hastings will have a fresh northeasterly with a high of 15C in the bay cities and overnight low of 8C. Showers and drizzle will continue throughout the day.

Further south Dannevirke can expect a similar forecast with temperatures peaking at 12C.

WeatherWatch head weather analyst Phillip Duncan said: "This week is one of those weeks where the weather is changing each day but nothing is really happening".

"We're not in a stormy area, but neither is it totally calm," he said. "Over the next few days a few weak fronts will move in meaning more cloud than rain for the most part. As for the next weekend coming up expect another mild start to Saturday."

Thursday will bring a high of 14C to Napier and Hastings with a chilly low of 2C in Hastings and 5C in Napier. The week's rain will begin to clear by the evening with a northwest change.

Friday starts the weekends good weather with northwesterly breezes and temperatures in the mid to high teens.

The MetService 10-day forecast indicates a prolonged dry spell following the wet week for Napier, with temperatures hovering around 17C. Hastings can expect some inland showers to arrive early next week.