A long-awaited Hawke’s Bay summer made itself known over the weekend, with temperatures soaring across the region for the first time since February 2022. Napier city recorded a high of 30.7C on Sunday, the first time temperatures had risen over 30C in the city since that month. Hastings also recorded 30.3C on Saturday, and Wairoa reached a high of 27.4C on Sunday.
MetService Meteorologist Lewis Ferris stated that these temperatures are likely a sign of what is to come, with another 30C high possibly hitting the region on Wednesday, and temperatures expected to stay in the 20s most days. Ferris added, It hasn’t really been cooling off overnight. The lows over the weekend were around 14 and 15C, and Monday morning only had a low of 17C. That is going to aid in temperatures coming back up. He also mentioned that cloud cover and an easterly breeze may cap some of the sweltering temperatures earlier in the week, and there may even be a shower or two.
According to Niwa meteorologist Ben Noll, warm temperatures are expected across the country for the end of the year as a warm air mass from Australia is set to arrive just before the holiday period. Noll said, We could be seeing 30C-plus temperatures around Wednesday and Thursday, especially in eastern areas, where we’re expecting northwest winds. So, it certainly seems like we’re in for a hot end to the calendar year here.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Napier was 37.5C in December 1994. Ferris added, To get into the top five December temperatures, you would have to be exceeding 33C. While not used this week, MetService recently introduced the trial of a new Heat alert to inform people of unusually hot temperatures over the summer. The alert is not designed to capture every hot summer day but will focus on ‘top end’ heat. It will be used for 46 towns or cities and could be actioned anytime until March 31, 2024.
As temperatures rise in the un-airconditioned main building at Hawke’s Bay Hospital in Hastings, preparations are underway. However, certain locations across the hospital are kept cool via permanent air conditioning units, including the emergency department, intensive care unit, mental health areas, theatre block, and endoscopy units. Paula Jones, the acting group director of operations for Hospital and Specialist Services at Te Whatu Ora Te Matau a Māui Hawke’s Bay, said they are continuously looking at ways to improve conditions for employees and patients during high temperatures. She added, Our health and safety and wellbeing team has considered the meteorological forecast for the upcoming summer, and Te Whatu Ora will keep our staff, patients, visitors, and community updated on advice regarding how to manage health and wellbeing in high temperatures.
