Rainy weekend puts a damper on beginning of school holidays

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Raincoats will be needed this weekend - the start of school holidays for many - with wet weather forecast for much of the country, including Auckland.

Today was expected to be a good end to the working week, with fine weather forecast for much of the day, but rain will hit tomorrow and hang around on Sunday, MetService said.

Those hoping to get outside for the weekend would be best to wake early tomorrow, with rain forecast for the evening over the city.

The dreary conditions were also likely to stay for Sunday, though rain should ease to showers, MetService said.

Despite that, Aucklanders will be pleased balmy temperatures are forecast, with northerlies and highs in the late teens expected.

Meanwhile, snow is on the cards for the Kaikoura and Nelson ranges on Sunday, MetService meteorologist Elke Louw said.

"It looks like a wet weekend for many.

"While things start to improve in the south during Saturday, the weather really sets in over the North Island as we head into Sunday."

A severe weather warning for an extended period of heavy rain was in place for the Westland ranges from midnight Thursday until midday Saturday, she said.

"As this complex low approaches, periods of heavier rain are likely over the central parts of New Zealand on Sunday while strong northerly winds affect western parts of the North Island." Rain would ease off over western parts of the North Island on Monday, she said.

WeatherWatch analyst Philip Duncan said the weekend was "typically spring-like", with a complete variety of weather across the country.

The North Island would be wet first thing Sunday thanks to an incoming low and possibly clearing in the afternoon with isolated showers, Mr Duncan said.