Rain and squalls should ease for holiday weekend

Wild weather plaguing parts of the North Island should clear in time for Labour weekend, meteorologists say.

The MetService yesterday issued severe warnings of heavy rain for Coromandel and Bay of Plenty, while a vigil for bad weather remained over other parts of the north and east of the North Island.

Chief forecaster Rod Stainer warned strong offshore winds today could bring heavy seas and swells to the east coast from East Cape to Wairarapa.

But the gloomy weather, caused by a depression in the north Tasman Sea, should pass quickly in time for the long weekend.

Operational meteorologist Rakesh Lal said wet weather that hit Northland would settle over Coromandel and Bay of Plenty today, but should ease by tomorrow.

A high would come in from the Tasman at the weekend, ensuring the rugby field would be dry for tomorrow night's NPC final between Auckland and Otago at Eden Park.

"We're looking at relatively fine weather across most of the country," said Mr Lal.

Tomorrow would be a "clearance day" with clouds and showers along the eastern coast, but the rest of the North Island would enjoy sunny weather.

"It's looking like a good Labour weekend. Labour Day itself is looking beautiful."

Most of the country should enjoy good weather on Sunday and Monday, said Mr Lal, with the exception of Southland and coastal Otago, which may pick up a few showers, and the east coast of the North Island, which may remain cloudy.

"There's bound to be a few cloudy periods and that kind of thing but nothing too significant that would destroy anyone's weekend."