Sunny start but rain to end holiday

Families enjoy the rides at the Royal Easter Show held at the ASB showgrounds in Auckland. Photo / Steven McNicholl

The long Easter weekend will be a "mixed bag" of weather, starting off warm and sunny but turning to showers and strong winds, forecasters say.

MetService duty forecaster Andy Downs said there will be fine spells today, tomorrow and early Saturday.

"Having said that there'll be some cloud around as well, with a few showers particularly in the northern coast."

A severe weather watch for heavy rain has been issued by MetService for Fiordland and Westland on Friday evening.

On Easter Sunday and Monday, Mr Downs expects cloud and showers for most of the North Island, perhaps turning into heavy rain. However, he said it would not be cold because a northeasterly wind would bring warm moist air, which would cause it to be humid later in the weekend.

North Island weekend temperatures should peak around 20C and reach a low of about 12C.

Weather Watch chief analyst Philip Duncan rated driving weather conditions today and tomorrow as moderately uncomfortable and advised driving with headlights on even if the weather was sunny with blue skies.

He said isolated showers in the upper North Island could make roads slippery. For the return trip on Sunday and Monday, conditions on the roads will be worse in most North Island regions, he said.

However, the weather should not be bad enough to stop many events planned this weekend, which will go ahead rain, hail or shine.

The annual Royal Easter Show, held at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane, starts today and will go through to Sunday.

Chocolate lovers have the opportunity to participate in a giant Easter Egg hunt through the Amazing Maize Maze in Karaka.

Also this weekend is the Waiheke International Jazz Festival, showcasing local and overseas musicians.

What's on?
Today - Monday: The Royal Easter Show in Greenlane.

Friday - Sunday: Waiheke International Jazz Festival.

Friday - Monday: Giant Easter Egg Hunt in Karaka.

Saturday - Monday: Berba Croatian Harvest Celebration at Soljans Estate Winery, State Highway 16, Kumeu.