Snowy snap coming for Hawke's Bay this week

More rain and cold temperatures are on the way for Hawke's Bay. Photo / Warren Buckland

The shortest day may have passed but the chilly temperatures are going to stick around Hawke's Bay for the rest of the week.

While the region experienced mild temperatures over the weekend, the northwesterly winds blew them away relatively quickly, leaving the cold snap to settle in.

MetService meteorologist Mark Bowe said yesterday's high of 13C and overnight low of 5C was looking to cool down even further today, with partly cloudy skies and a few showers developing in the morning then possibly getting heavier with hail in the afternoon.

"Wednesday is looking a lot clearer, with blue skies and a few showers in the afternoon, with a high of 12 degrees," Bowe said.

Napier will be the coldest, with tonight's overnight low sitting at 2C, while inland areas will experience warmer temperatures.

Bowe said the colder temperatures were due to a strong southwesterly flow moving up the country,"dragging up cold air from off the ice".

"The cooler temperatures and stronger winds will make wind chill a more significant factor this week."

"The Central Plateau will experience snowfall, dropping to about 500 metres, but that won't actually fall in the Hawke's Bay region itself."

Snow is inevitable for the Desert Rd area, with the Napier-Taupo Rd expected to get some snowfall too.

Drivers are advised to check the NZ Transport Agency website as well as MetService for any further road information or severe weather information.

Bowe said the unsettled and cold weather is being caused by a pool of cold air moving over New Zealand from the Southern Ocean, following the cold fronts.

The weather is expected to become more settled from mid-week, as a ridge of high pressure starts to edge its way into the country.