A tropical storm is building in the Pacific and threatens to dampen the beginning of the Easter holiday - but forecasters say New Zealanders should expect a fine, warm weekend before it arrives.
MetService said air temperatures are expected to reach 22C in Auckland today, and the weather would remain mostly clear, with some easterly winds, until Monday.
WeatherWatch.co.nz weather analyst Howard Joseph says winds will start to pick up on Monday for everyone in Auckland and areas to the north. A few showers may move into the far northern tip of Northland during the night.
The high that is producing the warmer weather was expected to drift away from the country next week, and new deluges could hit areas already swamped by rain earlier this month.
"On Tuesday, rain and wind will move south, overspreading the North Island. Heavy falls are possible, especially about Northland in the morning, Auckland in the afternoon and Gisborne and Hawkes Bay in the evening. Also on Tuesday, east winds will strengthen as they spread across the North Island. Gale force winds are possible" says Mr Joseph.