Caution as wet weather set to continue

Showers off the coast of Ahuriri yesterday, as a low settled over the region. Photo / Paul Taylor

It was a wet weekend in the Bay and there is plenty more rain on the way.

A "messy" low over the country forced the heavens to open, dropping 37.8mm of rain on the region.

The twin cities saw their fair share, with 17.2mm falling in Hastings and 11.8mm in Napier.

MetService meteorologist Ciaran Doolin said a consistent easterly flow had peppered the province but would move out to sea this afternoon. A severe weather watch was in place for Hawke's Bay, with a risk of significant rainfall accumulations.

The mean amount of rainfall for August in Hawke's Bay is 59.8mm, of which we have seen only 21mm so far.

It is the number of wet days in the region, however, that has captured the attention of MetService.

"The average number of wet days for August in Hawke's Bay is 7.2. So far, there have been seven wet days this month," Mr Doolin said.

Today should be the eighth, with morning showers forecast, clearing to a fine afternoon.

The isolated showers will be paired with dying southeasterly winds.

Tomorrow will be the finest day of the week, with high cloud clearing and a 16C high, and gentle northerlies developing. The rain will return later in the week, when a fresh southwest change brings showers likely to hang around for the weekend.