Hawke's Bay temperatures are set to heat up over the next month but predictions of a dry El Nino season leading into summer are now easing.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council's monthly "state of our environment" report for September said rainfall was below normal levels, especially in the north which achieved just 39 per cent of normal rainfall based on a 30-year average.
The regional council's senior scientist climate and air, Kathleen Kozyniak, said westerly winds brought rain to the Ruahine and Kaweka ranges but only a sprinkling to the rest of the region.
"As a result river levels have shown a decline while groundwater and soil moisture are still looking fairly healthy," Dr Kozyniak said.
Although the temperatures were "a little crazy" for September, overall it marked the normal annual move into spring weather.