Weather: What to expect this weekend

People brave the rain and wind. File Photo / New Zealand Herald

The wild weather that caused severe flooding in Dunedin will ease before the weekend.

The worst of the rain has now eased as the broad low that affected the country moves away to the east - but a few showers are expected to linger in some places over the weekend.

Auckland will have generally fine spells over the weekend, but should watch out for a few showers on Saturday. Northeasterly breezes are expected to turn westerly on Sunday.

Showers will clear by Sunday, bringing a "nice, fine afternoon".

Dunedin might get a few showers around the coast tomorrow, while inland areas remain dry. Saturday would be mainly fine with a bit of high cloud that would increase on Sunday.

"The might get a few spots of rain in the north westerly wind direction, but nothing like they've had recently," a Met Service duty forecaster said.

This should give some reprise to the flooding caused by wild weather in Dunedin recently and give locals a chance to clean up.

Parts of South Dunedin were hit the hardest, with both commercial and residential buildings going under water. Dunedin city received 175mm in the 24 hours to 4am on Thursday morning, with heavy rain falling continuously for 17 of those hours, Met Service said.

Severe surface flooding and slips forced a number of main roads in Dunedin to close. Several parts of State Highway 1, Taieri Rd, State Highway 87 and Portobello Rd were included in the closures.

Elsewhere it's time to wrap up warm, as temperatures will be cooler over the weekend, as a southwesterly flow brings chilly air up from the Southern Ocean.

Some frosty mornings are in store for many areas in the South Island, as temperatures are forecast to fall below freezing over the next few nights.

However, things will warm up again on Sunday as a general westerly flow with a weak ridge over the north makes its way up the country.

Some wind and rain will build up over the West Coast of the South Island, effecting Fiordland and Southland on Saturday. That will move up the country and turn to rain on Sunday, with a few showers in the west of the North Island. The east will be mainly fine and temperatures could reach the high teens in Hawke's Bay, Met Service said.

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Auckland: Friday - Fine spells, a few showers, dying southwesterlies. High of 16 degrees. Saturday - A few showers, southwest breezes. High of 15 degrees. Sunday - Few showers clear afternoon then fine, westerly breezes.High of 15 degrees.

Tauranga: Friday - Fine apart from evening cloud, light winds. High of 15 degrees. Saturday - Fine spells with a few evening showers, NE develops. High of 15 degrees. Sunday - Few showers clear afternoon then fine, w'ly develops. High of 15 degrees.

Christchurch: Few showers clear afternoon, then fine, dying southwest. High of 9 degrees. Saturday - Fine, northerlies developing. High of 10 degrees. Sunday - High cloud, northerlies. High of 14 degrees.

Dunedin: Few showers clear afternoon, then fine, dying southwest. High of 8 degrees. Saturday - High cloud, northwesterlies developing. High of 13 degrees. Sunday - High cloud, few spots rain. northwesterlies. High of 13 degrees.