Wet long weekend ahead for Western Bay + vid

Tauranga's Matapihi railway bridge during wet weather. Photo/file

Anyone planning on heading outdoors in the Western Bay of Plenty this long weekend will want to do so sooner rather than later, say weather experts.

Weather is expected to deteriorate from late Saturday onwards, resulting in a very wet Monday for most people.

Metservice meteorologist Emma Blades said Tauranga was currently experiencing beautiful blue skies but cold night time temperatures as a result of a high pressure front sitting over the North Island.

However, this front was expected to move on by the end of the week, resulting in cloudy skies in Tauranga on Saturday with the chance of showers.

"The weather will deteriorate, bringing rain and a northeasterly flow will develop. Sunday will be similar but those showers will turn into rain overnight and Monday will be quite wet," Ms Blades said.

However, the cloud will result in warmer temperatures, she said.

"Temperatures will pick up a bit. Your day time temperatures maybe going up to high teens and night time temperatures should pick up.

''At the moment they are sitting around 5 or 6C but at the weekend it will be low teens as the cloudy skies will help trap in the heat."