Tomorrow night's test between the All Blacks and the British and Irish Lions will be wet but the worst will hit after 9pm. Photo / Alan Gibson
Good news for the thousands heading to the decider at Eden Park tomorrow: the rain is expected to hold off until the celebrations start.
Fears rain would spoil the equalised test series between the All Blacks and British and Irish Lions have been allayed as a rain band isn't due to hit Auckland until after the final whistle.
Those in the City of Sails can expect morning showers with westerlies, then fine spells.
Showers will ramp up again with a northerly wind in the evening.
Further south a special weather advisory has been issued for snow and freezing rain to hit inland Southland, Otago and Canterbury tonight.
Deteriorating conditions are expected to make roads very icy and hazardous with motorists warned to take extreme caution on alpine passes.
MetService duty forecaster Tuporo Marsters said it would be showery in the lead-up to the test but the worst would be reserved for the post-match revelry.
"We've just heard that the rain is slowing down. The main rain band is going to come in a little bit later," said Marsters.
A repeat of yesterday's violent thunderstorm in Auckland was unlikely as most of the stormy weather has moved to the east.
Marsters said the city could expect showers throughout the day, some occasionally heavy, and a cool southwesterly wind.
"We're expecting a few showers around lunchtime but nothing like what we got yesterday," he said.
The South Island was enduring a second day of freezing temperatures. Mt Cook Airport dropped to -12C overnight.
Marsters said many towns had plummeted to sub-zero temperatures and black ice was causing problems on roads, but a fine day was in store for much of the island.
But weather was expected to go downhill overnight with light snow and freezing rain set to hit inland parts.
A more widespread polar blast was on the horizon and heavy snow was due to fall to low levels across southern regions on Tuesday.
What to expect on Saturday
Northland, Auckland, Coromandel: scattered showers, some heavy.
Waikato, North Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Taumaranui and Taihape: often cloudy with isolated showers.
Gisborne and Hawkes Bay: rain easing to a few showers and becoming fine in the afternoon.
South Taranaki to Wellington and Wairarapa: cloudy periods with increasing fine breaks.
Nelson and Marlborough: often cloudy, and a few spots of rain.
Buller, Westland, Fiordland: rain spreading then gradually clearing.
Canterbury, Otago and Southland: high cloud increasing with a few spots of rain in morning. Icy conditions inland.
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