Nippy Bay weekend awaits

Hawke's Bay is in for a cooler spell this weekend, with a high of 14C expected. There have been heavy skies over Napier Hill, as seen from Te Mata Peak, in Havelock North. Photo / Paul Taylor

Hawke's Bay has been boasting some of the country's best weather, but residents may need to dig out a hot-water bottle for the weekend, forecasters say.

As Dunedin was flooded by torrential downpours yesterday, the Bay boasted a spring-like high of 18C with scattered cloud.

However, a mixed bag is on the way: "There's a lot of rain elsewhere so you're doing relatively well as a region for now," MetService meteorologist Lisa Murray says.

The mercury dropped to a cooler 8C overnight while today brings fine spells and showers.

"There's a low front that will turn the wind southwesterly - it might be quite strong about the coast."

A relatively pleasant 16C is expected for Napier and Hastings today, turning to 14C tomorrow - when a nice morning gives way to drizzle in the afternoon, especially about the ranges.

The addition of southwesterly winds is set to bring swells of about 1m to 2m, which should ease off into Saturday afternoon as the breeze dies down.

Saturday and Sunday will hit a high of 14C, with some showers expected in the west.

"Overall it's pretty good, but a little colder - it's a general westerly flow over the country at the weekend."

Meanwhile police are reminding motorists to be mindful while driving in the wet conditions.

Dangerous and distracted drivers will be the focus of a police sting over the next few months in a bid to reduce the number of crashes over winter.

The campaign, dubbed the 2015 Winter Road Policing operation, will be launched today.

The intention is to reduce the number of crashes during winter by targeting drivers and riders who fail to drive to the conditions.

About 30 per cent of crashes during the corresponding period last year occurred while the roads were in a wet or icy state.