Warmer days numbered as front arrives

Rain, rain go away. The MetService says it's likely the brunt of the bad weather will hit on Sunday, as the image shows. Photo / Met Office, Thinkstock

First drizzle, then heavy rain setting in by Sunday

Aucklanders should enjoy the warm weather while it lasts, as today is the MetService's pick of the week before a front arrives.

The brunt of the bad weather will hit Auckland on Sunday, putting an end to the unseasonably warm temperatures most of New Zealand has experienced over the last couple of days.

"There is the chance of a passing shower this morning, but then it's mainly fine with sunny spells," said MetService meteorologist Liz Walsh. "The temperature is a nice balmy 18C, which is a feature of the weather that will continue."

And though tonight's temperature is forecast to drop to 8C, Friday and Saturday are looking to drop only to about 14C overnight, with a little bit of drizzle during the days.

Things are likely to change on Sunday, however, as a front descends over the country bringing southwesterly winds.

"Sunday doesn't look like the best day - a day to stay indoors perhaps, with heavy rain becoming more persistent and then easing back to showers as the front moves through."

It would move on quickly though, with milder temperatures and light showers likely to return on Monday.

In the South Island, the large trough will move in on Saturday, bringing with it a colder southerly change.

There is also a "moderate probability" of heavy rain about Mt Taranaki, the Tararua Range and eastern Bay of Plenty on Saturday and Sunday.

The South Island and lower North Island can expect to see wind rising to gale force at times on Saturday and Sunday.

WeatherWatch has also warned of gusty winds from Thursday, picking up on Friday. "This will lift temperatures in some eastern areas of both islands to 20C - not bad for the first day of August," the forecaster said.

By Saturday the winds ease over the South Island but push into the North Island with gales about Wellington and Wairarapa, WeatherWatch said. Rain will move into the West Coast from Thursday, and is likely to turn more widespread later on Friday and Saturday, it predicted.
- Additional reporting Susan Strongman

Weather today

Whangarei: Mainly fine with northwest breezes and a high of 18C.
Auckland: Morning cloud, then mainly fine with a northwest breeze, a high of 18C.
Hamilton: Cloudy periods, especially in the morning and evening, with northwest winds and a high of 18C.
Tauranga: Cloudy periods, mainly in the morning and night, with northwest winds and a high of 18C.
Source: MetService