Another beautiful day - but settled weather due to end

A cyclist takes advantage of the warm winter sun along Tamaki Drive this week. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Another fine day is forecast in most parts of the country today, but the sunshine is expected to last only until late this weekend.

Most of New Zealand has basked in fine weather over the past week, but a low pressure is slowly moving across the Tasman Sea towards us, bringing wind and rain.

Heavy rain is already expected today and through to tomorrow night in Fiordland, particularly south of Milford Sound.

The MetService has warned people in that area to keep up to date with forecasts in case a full warning is issued.

The wet weather is forecast to hold off until late Sunday or Monday, when a high ridge moves east of the country.

Meteorologist Stephen Glassy said that would bring north to northeast winds for the next few days, which will mean for relatively warm temperatures for this time of the year.

"Places exposed to the northeast flow, such as Northland and Auckland, are likely to notice the winds strengthening on Sunday, ahead of the approaching front,'' he said.

Aucklanders are in for a high of 16C today, and mainly fine weather but a chance of showers at some point.

Those in Hamilton will see similar conditions, and an overnight low of 4C.

In Gisborne, the weather is fine with northwesterlies and a high of 17C - the same in Whangarei.

Palmerston North has a high of 16C. It's a bit chillier in Wellington, where there is a 13C high today, and 15C in New Plymouth.

Further south, Nelson has a high of 15C and long fine spells.

The Garden City has morning frosts, but is otherwise fine with a high of 17C.

Rain is forecast this morning in Invercargill and Queenstown.

Here are the max temperatures expected across NZ tomorrow! Pretty spring like for most. Get the latest forecast https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^KL pic.twitter.com/5RdKVJfaqB

— MetService (@MetService) August 24, 2017