Get your brolly out for Labour weekend

Wet weather is heading to Northland this Labour Weekend.

Get your umbrellas and raincoats out because a front is expected to bring rain to most of Northland this holiday weekend.

MetService weather forecaster Tom Adams said the cloud and occasional showers being experienced in Northland were the result of a front moving up the country from the South Island.

The front, he said, was accompanied by a strong northwesterly, which was easing as it headed north, but there would be unsettled weather for Labour weekend in Northland.

"For Northland, winds won't be a significant issue but rain would be this weekend, although there's a low chance at this stage of heavy rain in all areas north of Waikato," Mr Adams said.

It was uncertain where the low would head after it had crossed Northland.

"Once it crosses Northland late Saturday or early Sunday, the wind will change to a southerly."

At the moment it was hard to predict the amount of rain likely to fall in Northland at the weekend but that should become more clear by tomorrow.

Daytime temperatures in most of Northland should remain between 19-20C until early next week, while night-time temperatures would hover 8-10C lower.

Skies should clear on Tuesday next week but rain would return on Thursday before it became cloudy heading into next weekend.

Meanwhile, the NZ Transport Agency said Northland roads were expected to be busy as people made the most of the first long weekend after winter and it urged motorists to take care.

Auckland highways manager Brett Gliddon said data on Labour weekends showed the areas and times that were most likely to be congested.

"We know that traffic is heaviest heading north on State Highway 1 between Puhoi and Kawakawa from mid-afternoon on Friday, and again on Saturday morning, and then returning south again from 10am on Monday morning," Mr Gliddon said.

"If you can, plan ahead and make your journey outside these peak times.

"This will help reduce congestion and keep traffic moving."