Sunshine turns to sleety cold

Young BMX riders make the most of a mild start to the school holidays, at Romanes Park BMX track in Havelock North yesterday. Photo / Paul Taylor

The school holidays started in sunshine but will turn wet and cold today, with a southerly wind bringing sleety showers over Napier and Hastings.

After yesterday's 18C high in Napier and 17C in Hastings, people will be reaching for the thermals when temperatures drop to 8C, with overnight lows of 1C tomorrow.

MetService meteorologist Rebekah LaBar said travellers should keep up with the latest road warnings, as snow is expected on the hills, with levels down to 200 metres.

The weekend looks brighter when the Antarctic weather eases and temperatures rise, but rain will continue next week.

Orchardists and farmers are welcoming the rain, which has so far been below average. They are hoping for a good amount to fill aquifers before spring growth, but Federated Farmers provincial president Will Foley said there is not a lot of water in the ground.

"We really hope for some proper rainfall to negate the threat of El Nino."

Weatherwatch analyst Philip Duncan said the indications of an El Nino are concerning, as they could cause a disaster similar to the summer drought of 1997-98.