Weather: Thunderstorms and hail possible

The weekend will be a wet one across the Auckland region. Chris Loufte

The weekend will get off to a damp start with thunderstorms and hail possible in the Auckland region this evening.

And don't forget to bring your raincoat with you tomorrow morning if you're setting off early to catch the opening ceremony and first match of the Rugby World Cup, as it's going to be a wet one.

Heavy showers have fallen across the region this morning, and winds have been strong, MetService meteorologist Tom Adams said.

The front that brought the showers was moving away from Auckland throughout the day but there was a risk of brief, heavy falls with thunderstorms tonight.

"In Auckland there's an improving trend today... The weekend [weather] in Auckland won't be anything to write home about, but it's not going to be great either," Mr Adams said.

The weekend will be a wet one across the Auckland region with showers around that would linger on Saturday and Sunday.

Auckland rugby fans getting up early tomorrow to head to a pub to watch the opening game in the Rugby World Cup are advised to pack a raincoat and umbrella.

Elsewhere, it's going to be a cold and wet weekend.

Cold southerlies will strengthen about the South Island east coast from tonight into tomorrow, with rain expected about Canterbury and Marlborough from Saturday night.

The southerlies and rain will reach the central North Island on Sunday.

MetService has issued a heavy snow warning for Canterbury and Marlborough, and was watching for snowfall in Hawkes Bay.

It's not great news for farmers in lamb season, but Mr Adams said it was spring-like.

"It's spring - a bit of summer and a bit of winter," he said.

Snow around Hawkes Bay could close the Napier-Taupo Highway, Mr Adams said.

"We definitely have got an eye on that," he said.

The alpine passes in the South Island have snow warnings in place, and there is a watch for the southerly winds in the South Island to approach severe gale force in eastern Otago tonight and Canterbury and Kaikoura coasts tomorrow evening.

Weekend weather:

• Whangarei: Cloudy with showers tomorrow and Sunday. Southerlies develop on Sunday. Highs around 15C, lows around 7C.

• Auckland: Cloudy with showers and southerlies developing on Sunday. Highs around 14C, lows around 7C.

• Hamilton: Showers around tomorrow afternoon and Sunday. Highs around 14C, lows around 5C.

• Tauranga: Fine tomorrow morning, with showers developing from afternoon and into Sunday. Highs around 14C, lows around 6C.

• Wellington: Fine spells with showers developing tomorrow afternoon and into Sunday. Southerlies strong on Sunday. Highs around 11C, lows around 6C.

• Christchurch: Occasional rain tomorrow and Sunday, with strong, cold southerlies. Highs around 10C, lows around 3C.

• Dunedin: Showers clearing throughout the day tomorrow with strong southerlies around. Some cloudy periods on Sunday. Highs around 8C, lows around 4C.