Cloudy but warm for long weekend

Aucklanders can expect more easterly breezes and cloudy skies over the long weekend - and it's likely to be little different in popular holiday spots like Northland and Coromandel.

The rest of the country is likely to fare better, with settled skies today and throughout the weekend, and temperatures slightly above average.

WeatherWatch weather analyst Richard Green said Auckland Anniversary weekend in the city was likely to see cloudy spells with breezy easterlies and a small risk of a few showers.

"It's alright, as long as you don't mind a bit of a breeze, but still warm, which is great."

Temperatures were expected to remain around 25C to 26C.

Many Aucklanders heading out of the city won't escape the breezes, with similar conditions forecast in popular holiday spots.

Mr Green said there would be a few more showers and easterlies in Northland, while Coromandel would also get breezy easterlies.

He said the place to be was West Coast beaches like Piha.

"Anywhere west will be a little more sheltered and a little warmer."

The wind was not likely to let up on Great Barrier Island, where blazes have ripped through scrub over the last couple of days.

"It's not helping with the fires - the wind is roaring through there, and that will continue for the next week, by the looks of it."

Next week, much of the country is expected to remain dry with warm to very warm temperatures.

But cloud, some showers and easterlies could persist over the far northeast of the North Island.

"It's just Auckland and Northland that seem to be dogged by the breeze a bit, but hey, things could be worse."

Mr Green said rain was needed badly over Canterbury and much of Otago.

"But it's not looking likely over the next week or possibly two sadly. The good news though is that it seems the northwesterlies have tapered away for a time."