Weather: What to expect this weekend

Hurricanes fans are in luck with the wild weather expected to settle in time for the clash against the Highlanders. Photo / Getty Images

Wet and windy weather which is lashing parts of the country today looks likely to settle in time for tomorrow night's clash between the Hurricanes and the Highlanders.

Today's wet and windy weather was set to ease, and finer weather was on the cards for the weekend ahead, MetService meteorologist John Law said.

"It is a wet and windy day and we've got this rain moving up the country. We've already got some severe weather warnings and watches in place at the moment.

"The heaviest rainfall is on those western facing sides of the South Island and towards parts of Fiordland, and in towards the headwaters of Otago and parts of Canterbury."

A weather watch had also been issued for parts of the lower North Island, Mr Law said.

"In Wellington we are going to keep an eye on that rainfall, especially towards the end of the working day."

Those in flood-ravaged Whanganui were also encouraged to keep an eye on the weather with some rain forecast for the area today, Mr Law said.

"It's probably going to be heaviest a bit further towards the north, and towards the south.

"I think they will get some rain in Whanganui today, the main concern for those guys will be rainfalls about the Central Plateau, and that will feed in towards the river catchments there.

"For Whanganui itself in the city or in the town it's going to be a cloudy day, a wet day, and spells of rain on and off.

"The heaviest rainfall is likely to be up about the top of the Central Plateau - so it's not a great day for them but again the weekend gets better."

Things were set to improve tomorrow, and better weather was forecast for the highly anticipated Super 15 rugby final between the Hurricanes and the Highlanders.

It would be a "great day in Wellington" for tomorrow's game, Mr Law said.

"It's dry, pretty much for the game itself. The wind is light by Wellington standards as well. Around about 7pm we are probably looking at temperatures of around about 9C.

"Even the guys in Northland and Auckland will get some wet weather as we go through the night time on Friday and towards Saturday, then that pulls away where we find a brief ridge of pressure building over central parts of the country."

Cold temperatures could be expected on Sunday, thanks to a southwesterly flow sweeping across the country, Mr Law said.

"We've got that cooler air coming back towards us, that's the main scene for next week.

"We will find those showers pushing back in towards Southland, towards the western coast of the South Island and perhaps even on towards parts of the North Island's west coast, from Taranaki up into Northland."

Things will be dry for those on the east coast of the country, Mr Law said.

Meanwhile, Weather Watch said a blast of Antarctic southerlies was expected to take aim for Southland, Otago, Canterbury and even Wellington and Wairarapa early next week.

It predicted temperatures of around 4C or 5C were on the cards for a few days next week in the deep south.

"On an international standard this isn't a major snow storm - but it could produce heavy snow to low levels for those rural areas most exposed to the southerly blast - and any snow in any of our main centres can be hugely disruptive," Weather Watch said.

Southland would be exposed on Monday and Tuesday, eastern areas would be exposed on Tuesday and Wednesday and the lower North Island and eastern North Island would become exposed on Wednesday.

"We don't consider this a significant 'storm' - but we do consider this a significant Antarctic blast of air and disruptive snow to sea level is possible in Otago, Southland and perhaps Canterbury."

Today's forecast:

•Whangarei: Drizzle turns to rain this afternoon. Northeasterly develops. High 17C Low 11C

•Auckland: Cloudy at times, rain develops afternoon. Northeasterly strengthens. High 16C Low 10C

•Hamilton: Cloud increasing, rain develops afternoon. Northerly freshens. High 15C Low 8C

•Tauranga: Occasional drizzle, then rain from afternoon. Gusty northerly. High 16C Low 11C

•Wellington: Rain develops. Gale northerly, gust 130 km/h. Late southerly. High 13C Low 7C

•Christchurch: Few morning and afternoon showers. Southwest change. High 13C Low 0C

Tomorrow's forecast:

•Whangarei: Rain easing to showers evening. Southwest change. High 15C Low 10C

•Auckland: Rain easing to showers evening. Southwest change. High 15C Low 10C

•Hamilton: Rain easing to showers evening. Southwest change. High 15C Low 6C

•Tauranga: Periods of rain, heavy falls. Southwest change. High 15C Low 8C

•Wellington: Cloudy periods. Winds turn northwest. High 13C Low 7C

•Christchurch: Fine, increasing high cloud. Strong northwest develops. High 11C Low 0C

Sunday's forecast:

•Whangarei: Showers and southwesterlies easing. High 17C Low 10C

•Auckland: A few showers. Southwesterlies easing. High 15C Low 11C

•Hamilton: Cloudy periods, shower or two. Southwesterlies easing. High 15C Low 7C

•Tauranga: Rain gradually clearing. Southwesterlies easing. High 16C Low 9C

•Wellington: Fine spells. Northwesterly turns southerly for a time. High 14C Low 8C

•Christchurch: Few spots morning rain, then fine. Southwest for a time. High 14C Low 0C

Source: MetService