A kite surfer off the coast near Napier on Wednesday as the wind picked up. Photo / Paul Taylor
A kite surfer off the coast near Napier on Wednesday as the wind picked up. Photo / Paul Taylor
Early 2023 is picking up where 2022 left off with wet weather dominating the region’s forecast.
Rain, rain and more rain is predicted for the next 10 days across Hawke’s Bay due to a subtropical weather system hitting the top of the country.
It comes as a major music event, Juicy Fest, is being staged on Thursday at Napier’s Park Island with crowds of up to 10,000 people, while campsites remain busy following the New Year festive season.
Ponchos were selling out fast in anticipation of the wet weather with two stores in Napier reporting their stocks had run dry by early Wednesday morning.
The stage being set-up ahead of Juicy Fest. Photo / Paul Taylor
The wet weather will ramp up through the week with the biggest downpours in Hawke’s Bay forecast for Sunday, which will likely mean a very wet end to the Fiesta of Lights in Hastings.
The wet conditions follow on from one of the wettest years on record for Hawke’s Bay in 2022 which caused plenty of headaches for growers.
Juicy Fest promoter Glenn Meikle said the big concert was still going ahead despite the forecast.
“At this stage there is no risk of Juicy Fest being postponed in Napier,” he said.
Former Hawks basketball player Geoff Heather with his young child, Te Marii Heather, making the most of the outdoors before the weather packs in. Photo / Paul Taylor
“According to the MetService’s weather forecast for Thursday, it is looking dry for most of the time the festival is scheduled. No rain is forecast between 1pm to 9pm.”
MetService meteorologist Jessie Owen said people can expect rain in the region for the “foreseeable future”. The extended forecast includes wet weather for the next 10 days.
“What is happening is we have a subtropical low weather system sitting up to the northwest of the country.
“That is directing a strong and wet northeasterly flow right down across the country, and the reason it is going to stick around for so long is we have a big high weather system parked out to the east of the country, and it is not going anywhere fast.
Sailing off Whirinaki, near Napier, in choppy seas on Wednesday ahead of plenty of rainfall. Photo / Paul Taylor
“So it is preventing that low weather system in the northeast from making any progress.”
She said they call these types of weather systems “blocking highs”.
“If you are on the right side of it you could have very nice weather for a long period, but if you are on the wrong side of it you end up with this wet stuff for a long time.”
Owen said it was hard to forecast what would happen beyond 10 days but people could expect more wet days than dry days “for the next wee while”.
People are reminded to keep a close eye on any weather warnings for the region which are published on the MetService website. On Wednesday, rain and wind warnings were being issued for much of the upper North Island.
Organisers of another big music event in Hawke’s Bay, Nest Fest being held on Saturday January 14, will be hoping the weather clears up in time for that big show.
