Wet weekend for most of NZ

Photo / file

Raincoats will be needed this weekend, with wet weather forecast for much of the country.

A front followed by a complex low would bring rain or showers, with snow on the cards for the Kaikoura and Nelson ranges on Sunday, MetService meteorologist Elke Louw said.

"It looks like a wet weekend for many.

"While things start to improve in the south during Saturday, the weather really sets in over the North Island as we head into Sunday."

A severe weather warning for an extended period of heavy rain was in place for the Westland ranges from midnight Thursday until midday Saturday, she said.

"As this complex low approaches, periods of heavier rain are likely over the central parts of New Zealand on Sunday while strong northerly winds affect western parts of the North Island."

Rain would ease off over western parts of the North Island on Monday, she said.

WeatherWatch analyst Philip Duncan said the weekend was "typically spring-like", with a complete variety of weather across the country.

The South Island was the best place to be on Sunday with mostly dry conditions and a chance of rain in Nelson Marlborough region, he said.

The North Island, however, would be wet first thing Sunday due to an incoming low and possibly clearing in the afternoon with isolated showers, Mr Duncan said.

******

Weekend forecasts:

* Whangarei

Tomorrow: Morning cloud, then increasing fine spells. Light winds. High 18C, low 9C.

Saturday: Cloud increasing, evening rain. Northerlies. High 18C, low 13C.

Sunday: Rain easing to showers. Northerlies dying away. High 19C, low 10C.

* Auckland

Tomorrow: Morning cloud, then mainly fine. Light winds. High 16C, low 9C.

Saturday: Cloud increasing, evening rain. Northerlies. High 17C, low 13C.

Sunday: Rain easing to showers. Northerlies dying away. High 18C, low 10C.

* Tauranga

Tomorrow: Morning cloud, then mainly fine. Westerly breeze. High 18C, low 8C.

Saturday: Cloud increasing, late rain. Northerlies developing. High 17C, low 11C.

Sunday: Rain, heavy falls, easing later. Northerlies. High 18C, low 8C.

* Hamilton

Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy morning and evening. Westerly breeze. High 16C, low 5C.

Saturday: Cloudy, evening rain. Northerlies freshening. High 17C, low 9C.

Sunday: Rain easing to showers. Easterlies. High of 18C, low 5C.

* Wellington

Tomorrow: Fine, evening cloud. Fresh northerlies. High 16C, low 10C.

Saturday: Fine, evening cloud. Fresh northerlies. High 14C, low 6C.

Sunday: Rain, easing later. Fresh southeast. High 10C, low 6C.

* Christchurch

Tomorrow: Cloudy periods, a few showers. Northeast develops. High 17C, low 6C.

Saturday: Few showers, rain from late afternoon. Southerly develops. High 16C, low 5C.

Sunday: Rain easing to showers. Southerlies tend easterly. High of 11C, low 1C.

* Dunedin

Tomorrow: Odd early shower, then fine spells. Westerlies. High 14C, low 7C.

Saturday: Showers developing morning with a southwest change. High 12C, low 5C.

Sunday: Cloudy periods. Northeasterlies developing. High 10C, low 4C.