Heavy rain on its way for eastern north island

File photo / Richard Robinson

Forecasters are promising a dry, sunny weekend for Auckland and much of the North Island, but eastern areas will get wind and rain.

Today's one-day cricket international at Eden Park looks set to be played under sunny skies, with wind picking up tomorrow.

Weatherwatch analyst Philip Duncan said winds over Auckland would be refreshing rather than disruptive - though for the eastern North Island a deep low would bring "pretty heavy rain for Gisborne, East Cape, Hawkes Bay ... and fairly strong south easterlies - probably gale force in exposed places."

He predicted weekend temperatures above 25C for Auckland, Northland and parts of the Waikato.

MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said the low moving front would be closest to the East Cape tomorrow - bringing wind and rain to eastern parts. A heavy rain watch has been issued for Gisborne and northern Hawkes Bay.

Winds would increase over the whole North Island over the weekend, with the possibility of gale-force winds around Gisborne, the Cook Strait and Southern Taranaki, said Mr McDavitt.

Mr McDavitt said rain could hit Coromandel, Waiheke, Whangaparaoa, and the Hunua ranges early next week. Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and the hills of eastern Bay of Plenty would have outbreaks of rain over several days.

The forecasts held little joy for Northlanders desperately hoping for a break in the drought.

Mr Duncan said there was no rain in sight for the parched North. "I think northern New Zealand is going to have an extended summer, well into April, and that is bad news for Northland."