Rain is starting to set in across Hawkes Bay and other dry eastern regions of the North Island.  The low that is moving in has the chance to deliver a solid burst of rain for the drier than average part of the North Island, starting this afternoon and perhaps not easing until Thursday morning.

Hawkes Bay may have a heavy burst of rain this evening but then should ease overnight.

Patchier rain will move into Wairarapa later today and overnight – and has a better chance of lingering into Thursday morning.

While the ranges may get 100mm of rain we don’t see that much falling in the driest coastal areas – however the downpours may just be enough to reverse the dry weather in the east, or at least put a nice dent in it.

Soil moisture deficit map for today by NIWA (funded by the NZ taxpayer) Driest areas in orange/yellow

2pm Rain Radar by MetService (funded by the NZ taxpayer) blue areas show heavier rain moving in.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz