Fine end to the week: Wet forecast for Easter weekend

A high continues to bring settled weather for most of the country today, however it's not expected to last much longer, with a front expected late on Friday and during Saturday.

There will be plenty of sunny, dry, weather across the country until then, but those spots exposed to the south-easterly flow will see a little bit of cloud, in particular the Coromandel Peninsula, Great Barrier Island and eastern parts of Northland, with chances of light showers.

Thursday's weather will be much the same, with a couple of showers hitting the upper North Island but otherwise it'll be great weather to end the week.

An area of low pressure is expected to form on Good Friday, bringing some rain and at least one wet day for most places, although some may have two.

Metservice Meteorologist Lisa Murray said on Saturday the front will come up from the south, and move up the country.

Northwesterlies are expected to bring the temperature up, but are also forecast to bring heavy rain to Fiordland and Westland.

"There is a bit of spill over for the likes of Southland and Central Otago, but only a few showers.

"Most places will remain pretty good for Saturday. If we were to take Saturday as a whole then the North Island is looking relatively good with a few isolated showers around, but most places are generally fine.

"It is the same for the top of the South Island around those eastern areas, but as our front moves up the South Island will see cloud increasing into the evening on Saturday."

On Sunday, the front will be sitting close to Wellington and the capital will get a period of rain and blustery strong winds.

"By the end of the day, the front will get slower and weaken, so by the end of Sunday it will still not have reached Auckland, it will still be around Taranaki, the Wairarapa, and just reaching Palmerston North" Murray said.

"Auckland, Coromandel and the Gisborne areas will be not too bad for much of Easter, but their day which will be not so great will be Monday as that front moves over, bringing cloud and some showers."

Murray said the weather will be quite changeable, so it is best people check the forecast, especially before people head away on holidays and camping.

"Temperaturewise it can be quite a contrast, so the day time temperatures can be 20C but overnight you get down quite low, so it is important that people are aware and prepared."

Today's forecast

Whangarei: Variable high cloud. Southeasterlies. High 20C / Low 13C.

Auckland: Fine. Light winds. High 20C / Low 10C.

Tauranga: Fine. Light winds. High 19C / Low 9C.

Hamilton: Fine. Light winds. High 20C / Low 5C.

New Plymouth: Fine. Southeasterlies. High 19C / Low 8C.

Napier: Mostly cloudy, chance morning shower. Southerlies gradually easing. High 17C / Low 9C.

Wellington: Partly cloudy, isolated early morning showers. Southerlies. High 15C / Low 8C.

Nelson: Morning cloud, then fine. Light winds. High 17C / Low 7C.

Christchurch: Fine, morning low cloud or fog. Light winds. High 16C / Low 5C.

Dunedin: Fine, morning and evening cloud or fog. Light winds. High 15C / Low 8C.