School out so weather turns wet

A cyclist rides along the Rotary Pathway on Marine Parade, Awatoto, Napier, yesterday in warm, sunny weather that isn't expected to last. Photo / Duncan Brown

After an almost early spring-like week, the true bite of winter is set to have a nip at Hawke's Bay next week - with the sort of timing that will have many parents rolling their eyes.

The school holidays kick off on Monday and that day is forecast to be a sunny and sparkling 17C, with gusting westerly winds.

But then from Tuesday it all turns soggy, and looks set to stay soggy through until at least next Saturday, according to the MetService long-range forecast.

The only positive side is that the worst of the rain will avoid eastern areas, as the active trough which began moving across the South Island yesterday is driving a southwesterly front, although it will eventually turn into a southerly.

Western areas will cop the heaviest falls, while the mountain ranges will soak up much of it - but showers are still on the daily forecast.

While rain will fall, so too will the temperatures, which rose to unseasonable highs of 18C in Napier last Tuesday and 19C on Wednesday.

"Folk across the country will notice more of a wintry chill in the air towards the middle of next week," meteorologist Peter Little said.

"The disturbed southwesterly flow persists over the country through Sunday and Monday, then turns southerly and much colder on Tuesday and Wednesday," he said.

"This change in the direction of the flow is expected to push showers into eastern areas."

It is a case of making the most of the mild weather while it lasts.

From the time forecast showers arrive for the twin cities on Tuesday, the temperatures will begin to drop. The long-range forecast has Wednesday as showery and 16C, then a plunge to a damp 12C through until Saturday.

Mr Little did have good news for rugby fans gearing up for tonight's big Super 15 final between the Hurricane and the Highlanders at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, though.

"A narrow ridge looks to clear the rain from Wellington. It looks as though weather conditions will allow for running rugby, as a dry pitch is expected and not much wind, by Wellington standards," he said.

However, he was unable to offer too much bright stuff for parents and caregivers, heading into week one of the fortnight-long school break.

Meanwhile, those who felt June was a mild month throughout the region were right, as Niwa's monthly climate summary shows.

In terms of rainfall, eastern regions got between just 50-79 per cent of normal June rainfall, while temperatures were above average in all eastern areas, despite an early cold snap that saw light spots of snow detected at sea level along parts of the coastline.

Waipawa recorded its fourth highest June temperature since 1945, with 20.8C on the 19th day on the month, while Hastings posted its second highest minimum temperature on June 20, with a 15.1C reading.

While rainfall was down overall, Dannevirke did receive its second highest daily total on June 20, with 70mm.

Soil moisture was recorded as below normal for East Cape and Hawke's Bay.

On the national front, the highest temperature was 21.7C, observed at Cheviot on June 1.

The lowest temperature was -21.0C, observed at Tara Hills on June 24, while the highest one-day rainfall was 454mm, recorded at North Egmont on June 19.

The highest wind gust was 189 km/h, observed at Cape Turnagain on June 29.