Hawke’s Bay braces for coldest mornings of the year as snow warning issued for SH5
Hawke’s Bay residents are preparing for record-breaking cold temperatures and widespread frosts as a high-pressure ridge settles over New Zealand. MetService has issued a road snowfall warning for SH5, with temperatures expected to drop as low as -4C.
Why it matters
Extreme weather events can disrupt transportation infrastructure and pose significant risks to public health and agriculture in the region.
Snow on the Ruahine Range last week as Hawke's Bay braces for the coldest temperatures of the year. Photo / Michaela Gower
Hawke’s Bay residents are likely to wake to their coldest morning in several years on Friday, with temperatures forecast to plunge to -4C and widespread frosts.
A road snowfall warning was in place on Tuesday for the Napier-Taupō Rd, SH5, from midday to 11pm.
Snow showers are expected to lower to 400m initially and to 200m by evening.
Between 1cm and 2cm of snow could accumulate above 400m, while flurries were possible down to 200m but were not expected to settle, MetService said
Meteorologist Alwyn Bakker said overnight temperatures would fall to 0C in Napier and Hastings on Wednesday night, before dropping further to -4C in Napier and -3C in Hastings on Thursday night into Friday.
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