Last of sunshine to evaporate by weekend

Autumn colours on display at Tainui Reserve, Havelock North. PHOTO / WARREN BUCKLAND

Winter might not be coming just yet - but wind and rain are, the MetService weather forcast shows.

"Rain and wind is coming, as it does at this time of year," Meteorologist Tom Adams said.

"We've been quite lucky with the weather we have been having but the weather this weekend, is not looking great.

"There will be rain for much of the country, particularly the North Island. There's some strong winds as well, which could be reaching several gale in places."

The complex low bringing the weather still held too much uncertainty to say precisely where the worst of the weather would be but it was "extremely likely" weather watches for some areas would be issued in coming days.

"Hawke's Bay already has a "low chance" of heavy rain and also a from Saturday Sunday, a low-risk of several gales. So, the early signals are already out there."

At the moment the risk was low but that could change, he said.

"This is all what we can expect as part of autumn. In terms of the next four weeks, for Hawke's Bay, things are looking a bit wetter than normal next week but then drying out after that. Things are expected to return to normal temperatures for the next couple of weeks.

"So there's be a bit of a wet spell this weekend but hen after that it will be getting back to the classical autumnal pattern."

Temperatures today are expected to stay around 20 degrees with clear skies, and much the same is expected tomorrow. However, from Thursday on wards rain, possibly heavy at times, is forcast for the next seven days.

Temperatures at the weekend will be cooler as well, possibly reaching the high-teens, with gusty winds also expected.