Winter's first snow falls in Hawke's Bay as region braces for arrival of more severe weather

Dylan (left) and Bradley Saunders making the most of the snow falling about Te Pohue on the Napier Taupo Rd this afternoon. Photo/Duncan Brown

Snow is falling for the first time this winter as Hawke's Bay bears the brunt of a cold front moving up the country.

After reports of snow at Eskdale circulated just after midday, MetService has confirmed snow is falling on the Napier Taupo Rd.

Currently under a severe weather watch, warning and road snowfall warning, Hawke's Bay is one of several regions expecting the heaviest snow in the country.

Metservice meteorologist Tom Adams said Hawke's Bay was in for some "pretty bad weather" throughout the next few days due to the cold front travelling up the country and essentially "stalling" in the lower part of the North Island.

"Hawke's Bay is in for some pretty bad weather over the next few days and on top of snow there is also rain and wind to watch out for."

Snow was expected to reach within 500m of sea level today and may rise to 700m tomorrow where it will be "touch and go" as to whether it snows or rains, he said.

Mr Adams said this was particularly concerning as the weather may turn "sleety" and make for bad driving conditions.

The New Zealand Transport Agency has issued an area warning for the Napier Taupo Rd due to snow and the Taihape Rd has been closed from the Rangitikei end through to the Kaweka Forestry headquarters on the Hastings side.

MetService had also forecast that rainfall accumulations south of Napier from Thursday night to Friday afternoon may reach warning criteria.

Temperatures in the Bay this week are expected to drop into low double figures and reach freezing temperatures in the evenings.

While Mr Adams said the weather should "fine up for the weekend" he said the cold weather wouldn't be going away.

"It's going to be cold for a while."