Grim weather for long weekend

Heavy rains and gale force winds are in store for many part of the country over the long Queen's Birthday weekend, but there may also be some sunshine. Photo / Doug Sherring

Heavy rain, gale force winds and the occasional patch of sunshine await those heading away for the long Queen's Birthday weekend, forecasters say.

Severe weather warnings have been issued across the country today and into Saturday as a low pressure system pushes south.

Metservice is forecasting gale force winds hitting Northland later today and spreading to the west of both the North and South Islands.

Northeast wind gusts reaching around 130 km/h at times were set to hit exposed headlands and hills in Northland through to midday on Saturday, with the potential for damage to trees, power lines and insecure structures.

That is expected to be accompanied by heavy rain, with 80 to 125mm falling on Northland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, the western ranges of Gisborne, Nelson and the West Coast.

Areas north of Whangarei would be worst hit, with peak falls of 15 to 20mm an hour on Saturday morning, Metservice said.

It warned of rivers rising quickly and possible surface flooding.

But Weatherwatch.co.nz weather analyst Philip Duncan said the bad weather would give way to sunshine in many areas on Sunday and Monday.

"It is going to be warm, windy, wet and sunny at some point.

"It is certainly looking like at least one day will be wet. But most people can expect a little sun."

It was hard to pick where rain would fall heaviest, but almost no rain would fall on Canterbury and Hawkes Bay for the whole weekend, he said.

"Canterbury is the best place to be. And the Hawkes Bay is going to have a good one."

Queen's Birthday picks

Where to be:

Canterbury and Hawkes Bay are both predicted to be mainly fine.

Where not to be:

Northland and the West Coast are both expected to be windy and soaking wet - though the rain could be thinning out on Sunday.