The gloomy wet weather the Western Bay woke up to today should be out of the way by lunchtime tomorrow, making way for an action- packed weekend of events.
But the downpour has put a question mark over the first of two State Twenty20 cricket matches due to be played at
the new Bay Cricket Oval at Blake Park today and Sunday.
The Northern Knights are scheduled to take on the Otago Volts at 4pm but the rain may put a damper on things.
Bay of Plenty Cricket operations manager Kelvin Jones said at the latest the game could be be postponed until 5.30pm, when 10 overs a side could be played.
The weather looks promising, though, for a 4pm Sunday match between the Northern Knights and the Wellington Firebirds.
MetService forecaster Mark Pascoe said the weather should clear up later today.
"It should ease right back to light showers later today, improving from the west this evening," he said.
Crowds headed for the More FM Winery Tour at Wharepai Domain tomorrow evening will likely be in luck _ the grounds should stay relatively dry for the outdoor concerts.
"It's really essentially good weather, there might be some cloud at times in the west. There might even be the odd shower in the west but it won't come to much on Saturday," said Mr Pascoe.
"There's ... just a few early morning showers for Saturday, then fine."
Sunday is forecast to be a nice day with cloudy periods in the west and westerlies.
The skies should be clear for the majority of the Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival on at Baypark over the weekend. The events runs from 9am until late both days.
