More rain forecast as autumn gets established

April is expected to be a wet month.

After a warmer March than usual, more rainfall is expected across the region in April as autumn sets in.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council's state of the environment summary report for March describes the month as a toned down version of February.

The regional council's monthly summary report was collated by Dr Kathleen Kozyniak, HBRC's air quality scientist, using data from regional monitoring sites.

In her report, Dr Kozyniak said March was warmer than usual and drier than usual, "but not to the same turbo-charged extent as the previous month," referring to February's record temperatures.

Last month rainfall was below normal across Hawke's Bay, while on the Ruataniwha Plains it was even drier as rainfall totals fell below half the monthly average.

River flows across the region showed a similar "sagging" below the long-term mean, and although groundwater results were mixed, levels were also generally below normal for this time of the year. "Soil moisture however, is reasonably good going into autumn, thanks to a brief thunderous deluge at the end of the month," Dr Kozyniak said.

Water quality at monitored swimming beaches was generally good and met recreational water quality standards.

Metservice meteorologist Emma Blades said that, as the country progressed toward winter, April was looking to be a wetter, and cooler version of March. Already, April had seen 23ml of rain and an average temperature of 16C. In March there was 54.8ml of rain, with 17ml on one day, and an average temperature of 18C.

The rest of this week was forecast to be sunny as high pressure builds around central areas in the North Island, Ms Blades said.

There would be light winds with the "odd spot" of rain, with an average high of 20C and chillier nights.

On Sunday, a ridge of low pressure would skirt along the North Island, bringing with it scattered showers, which would continue into next week.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council's state of the environment summary report is available online at http://www.hbrc.govt.nz/Services/Environmental-Sciences/SOE/soe-monthly-reports/Pages/default.aspx