Labour weekend weather: Cold and showery start for most, but clearer skies and warmer temps expected by Sunday

Southland and Otago can expect to see some low lying frost on Friday morning. Photo / Warren Buckland

Most of the country is in for a mixed bag of weather for the remainder of the week and as we head into the Labour Day long weekend.

WeatherWatch reported that a large high pressure zone bringing cooler temperatures will arrive just in time for the long weekend.

Lower areas of Southland and Otago can expect some frost on Friday and Saturday.

"The further north you go the higher the elevation the frosts go too," a WeatherWatch report reads.

"For the most part frosts don't look heavy - but at this critical time of year for growers the attention to detail matters."

Southern and eastern areas of the North Island could also get some frost over the weekend.

On Friday, MetService says most of the North Island will get showers which will clear by the evening.

Those in the south and east of the South Island will also get showers but these will clear by the morning, except for northern Buller and Kahurangi National Park.

On Saturday, Gisborne, northern Hawke's Bay, Buller and Kahurangi National Park may get some isolated showers throughout the day.

Over the weekend, Auckland can expect highs of around 18C while the forecast in Wellington on Friday is a high of 12C but 16C on Sunday.

In the South Island, Christchurch could reach 22C on Sunday - a 10C increase compared to Friday's forecast high of 12C.