Unseasonable mild weather due after chill

FICKLE WINTER: Golfers at Maraenui Golf Club didn't let the icy wind and rain stop them from having a round. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR

While cold southerlies driven by a low pressure system brushing the eastern side of the North Island will keep the fires and heaters in Hawke's Bay glowing for the next couple of days there is sunshine, and warmth, on the horizon.

The fickle winter is set to get fickler and if the long-range forecast stays on track the first day of July next Wednesday could hit a temperature one degree higher than it was in summertime Amsterdam yesterday, and three degrees warmer than Edinburgh.

Some showers, westerlies and a potential high of 18C could be the mix for Napier and Hastings on July 1 - which is traditionally the coldest winter month.

As meteorologist Stephen Glassy said, westerlies were set to give a light touch of spring to parts of Hawke's Bay over several days.

"They [westerlies] are more common in spring but you can still get these weather situations in winter."

For eastern regions westerlies translate to mild conditions, and that is what is on the Bay menu from Friday after the southerly system moves away.

"Historically the coldest winter month in July but it's too early to say how things will go," he said in response to whether the mild start, if it does eventuate as forecast, could be a pointer to how the rest of the month would go.

While today and tomorrow will be winter-like at 11C and 12C, and as low as 6C in parts of Central Hawke's Bay, Friday for the twin cities could reach 16C as the westerlies begin.

The weekend is set to be sunny and also 16C, while Monday could climb to 17C and Tuesday 18C as the sunshine and westerlies continue.

The fallout from the heavy rains which struck western regions and parts of Tararua also continues however.

The Manawatu Gorge remains closed while contractors work on clearing minor slips as well as carry our checks on some areas which could pose slip risks.

Engineers were assessing the area and motorists were advised to check for updates through the New Zealand Transport Agency website.

The alternative Pahiatua Track road is also closed due to slips while the Saddle Rd is open but reduced to one lane in stretches with stop/go signals in place.

While snow was reported near Te Pohue on SH5 between Napier and Taupo on Monday morning it had mainly cleared by the evening.

Hawke's Bay Road Policing Senior Sergeant Greg Brown said there had been no major incidents but said the arrival of rain and possible snow showers was a good time for motorists to carry out tyre checks and to drive accordingly in such conditions.

The southerly system was also likely to kick up swells along the eastern coastline, potentially reaching 4m in some areas, through until Friday.