Weekend gives returning workers last blast of sun

Sisters Estelle (left) and Celeste Furniss enjoy a paddle at Lake Karapiro. Photo / Christine Cornege

The weekend should provide a last blast of sun before most people return to the daily grind of work.

Forecasts show the fine weather continuing for most Kiwis this weekend and into the start of next week, when the official Christmas-New Year holiday period ends.

MetService forecaster Lisa Murray said the only exception in the North Island appeared to stem from thunder storms over the Gisborne ranges today.

"It looks like they're going to drift across into Eastern Bay of Plenty, so they might get some decent heavy falls," Ms Murray said. The rain might stretch as far as Taupo and Rotorua.

Ms Murray said it was imperative that walkers kept an eye on the forecast because of potentially fast-rising rivers. But by tomorrow, most of the North Island would likely be bathed in sunshine.

The ridge of high pressure which has provided settled weather for the last week would stay over the North Island but move from the South Island.

Ms Murray said that might bring a variety of fronts for those in the south, particularly on the West Coast as showers would likely work their way up it.

Those on the Coromandel Peninsula will be rewarded with continuing blue skies as highs for most areas in the north reach the mid-20s.

There would be some isolated showers on Monday, Ms Murray said.

Summer snapshot
Hottest: Te Kuiti, 28C.
Coldest: Oban, Stewart Island, 16C.
Wettest: Between 15mm to 20mm of rain expected in Westport.
Windiest: Banks Peninsula, gusts of about 70km/h expected later tonight.
Spotlight on: Kawau Island, Hauraki