Thick fog across Hawke’s Bay cancels morning flights; rain watch announced for tomorrow

Hastings was not immune to the fog in Hawke's Bay. Photo / Warren Buckland

Bad weather is set to dominate most of the week in Hawke’s Bay as cloud and rain continue to make their way across the region.

A thick blanket of fog delayed arrivals and departures at Hawke’s Bay Airport on Wednesday morning and a heavy rain watch will be in place for most of Thursday.

Air New Zealand confirmed on Wednesday morning that six outgoing flights and four incoming flights were cancelled due to fog.

“We have been communicating with affected customers to reaccommodate them and thank them for their understanding and patience while we work through these weather challenges,” an Air New Zealand spokesperson said.

MetService meteorologist Alain Baillie told Hawke’s Bay Today the sudden fog is likely to have come from a moist northeasterly flow that has made its way across the region.

“Most of the higher cloud moved offshore, so that’s allowed the heat to escape and you’re left with a radiation fault because the air has been able to cool sufficiently for it to condense.”

Baillie said winter fog could last a while. Modelling showed the fog on Wednesday went from Napier to the most westerly point of Hawke’s Bay.

“It could be 11am before it clears,” Baillie said at 9.30am.

Most of the fog had lifted by noon.

A thick layer of fog cloaked Napier city this morning. Photo / Mitchell Hageman

Temperatures as of 10am were 8C in Napier and 7.6C in Hastings.

A police spokesperson said there had been no notable incidents related to the fog.

MetService also announced a heavy rain watch for the Ruahine Range and Kaweka Forest Park from 3am tomorrow until midnight.

People in the areas could expect heavy rain that could return late Friday and persist through to Saturday.

“Rainfall accumulations may approach warning criteria,” the MetService said.