Changeable weather set to continue into weekend

File photo / Chris Gorman

Changeable weather is set to continue for the weekend, with rain and strong winds expected for the South Island and some fine weather for the top of the North Island.

After a night of wild weather for Auckland, the weekend looks to be more settled.
Large hail, strong winds, rain and thunderstorms battered the Auckland region overnight, leaving one home with a hole in the roof after reportedly being struck by lightning.

Wind gusts of up to 130km/h were recorded as 70 thunderstorms moved across the region overnight, rolling into the city around 11pm, MetService said. About 600 lightning strikes were recorded from Taranaki to Auckland, with 40 of those flashing over central Auckland and Manukau Harbour.

Auckland would escape more stormy weather over the weekend.

However, a front will bring wind and rain across the western parts of the North Island tomorrow, MetService meteorologist Elke Louw said.

"The spring weather is expected to continue as we head into the weekend," she said.

More rain was expected with strong to gale northwesterlies first arriving in the south, then moving north.

The gale would potentially be severe in exposed places east of the Southern Alps on Saturday.

A severe weather watch was in place for Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa. MetService said the region could be in for gale northwesterly winds tomorrow but should ease by the evening.

The wind precedes the next frontal system, which brings heavy rain from Fiordland to Buller by Sunday.

"The front is expected to weaken as it heads towards the North Island at the beginning of next week, although a period of heavy rain is likely for the Tararua Range," Ms Louw said.

The top of the North Island would escape the worst of the weather. Some showers would hang around on Friday and Saturday but clear for Sunday.

WEEKEND OUTLOOK:

Whangarei: Cloudy periods and showers tomorrow that will clear for fine spells over the weekend.

Auckland: Cloudy periods and showers tomorrow and Saturday but will clear for fine spells on Sunday.

Hamilton: Showers on Friday and into Saturday morning, clear by afternoon. Cloudy periods on Sunday.

Tauranga: Long fine spells tomorrow. Cloudy periods on Saturday turning to drizzle on Sunday.

Wellington: Showers may be heavy tomorrow afternoon. Fine on Saturday turning to rain and gale northwesterlies on Sunday.

Christchurch: Showers tomorrow will clear to make way for a fine Saturday. Gutsy northwesterlies on Sunday.

Dunedin: Showers tomorrow will clear to make way for a fine Saturday. Rain on Sunday.