Sunshine and rain expected this weekend

The sun is set to shine down on the Bay of Plenty, with long, sunny periods forecast for tomorrow.

It's set to reach a maximum temperature of 21C and there will be light northerly winds developing during the day.

But after a day of bliss, clouds are set to roll in and with them will come rain.

MetService have forecast a wet day for Sunday in the Western Bay, thanks to a new weather system moving in from the Tasman Sea.

The weather system is expected to bring increasing cloud and showers in the evening.

MetService media and communications meteorologist Daniel Corbett said it could be wet but it wouldn't be a complete washout.

"Sunday will be the wetter day of the two for the North Island with a band of rain moving in during the day,'' he said.

"The rain band will spread across Auckland during Sunday afternoon but will take until the afternoon to spread the rain across the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne/Hawkes Bay.''

It is forecast to hit a maximum temperature of 18C on Sunday.

Mr Corbett said the rain would slowly clear in the Bay of Plenty on Monday and the fine weather should follow with "an approaching area of high pressure''.

Looking ahead, MetService's long-range forecast has predicted a fine week in the Bay next week.

On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, it's expected to be fine and dry with temperatures reaching about 19C.

BAY OF PLENTY

Saturday: Fine

weather. Northwesterlies.

Sunday:  Cloud

increasing, evening rain.

Northerlies.

Highs 18-20C

* Source: MetService