Violent weather over the past 48 hours has finally started to ease this afternoon reports WeatherWatch.co.nz.

Wind speeds are well down on yesterday.  As of 4pm these were the latest readings courtesy of NewstalkZB.

New Plymouth – near gale southerly with gusts to 80km/h.

Taupo – South east wind of 44km/h gusting over 70km/h

Palmerston North – Gusty south easterly reaching 70km/h at times.

Wellington – strong southerly gusting to 70km/h and up to 110km/h on the hilltops.

Wellington and Christchurch are both on 9 or 10 degrees according to NewstalkZB.

However the heavy rain on the east coast remains and WeatherWatch.co.nz predicts heavy rain will continue in Hawkes Bay tonight, easing on Thursday morning, while heavy rain will be pushed back northwards into Gisborne this evening and won’t ease until Thursday afternoon.

The good news for those in Hawkes Bay and Gisborne is that dry weather is expected for at least Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

– Homepage image / File, damaged umbrellas – MandenoMoments.com

– WeatherWatch.co.nz