Warmer but wet on long weekend

Rain is expected to hit this long weekend.

Pack a raincoat if you're heading away for Queen's Birthday weekend as a front will bring rain to Northland, particularly late on Sunday and Monday.

MetService weather forecaster John Law said it was one of those weekends when Northlanders needed to keep a tab on the latest forecast and any watches and warnings.

A high pressure system moving eastwards over the North Island will allow a northerly flow to build over the South Island tomorrow ahead of an approaching front.

Mr Law said the front was likely to arrive over the long weekend, with a spell of rain or showers expected in the north and west of both islands.

A second front is then expected to approach the South Island on Monday.

On the plus side, he said temperatures in Northland over the weekend would be warmer than what they are now.

"The best weather looks to be on Saturday but come Sunday, there'll be more cloud and patchy rain," Mr Law said.

"Places like the Bay of Islands and Whangarei are likely to be mostly affected by occasional rain and showers while Dargaville should have decent days on Thursday and Friday."

Few showers with south easterlies today and tomorrow for most centres in Northland before the wind changes to north easterlies on Saturday.

Rain is expected for the whole of Monday while showers with light or no wind are predicted for the rest of next week.

The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council are encouraging people to check the latest weather forecasts and to plan and prepare for unsettled weather before heading outdoors over Queen's Birthday weekend.

Council chief executive Mike Daisley said walking and navigation could become more challenging so people needed to be aware of the weather and to know their limits as an easy tramping track could become much more difficult if the weather changed.

- Check out the latest forecast and any watches and warnings on MetService.com before heading out.