New Zealand basks in sunny weather for long weekend

Spring-like conditions are forecast for much of the country for the long weekend. Photo / Doug Sherring

Kiwis heading out today are being advised to pack both sausages and sunscreen as a big high parks itself over the country.

Temperatures are tipped to hit the low 20s across much of the North Island with Te Kuiti the pick of the bunch basking in 22 degrees.

Aucklanders can expect a very spring-like 19 degrees, according to the MetService, and the cooler south-west winds that breezed through the city of sails yesterday have now tapered off.

In the South Island, the temperatures are a little cooler with high cloud in some areas and scattered rain forecast for southern parts of the country and the South Island's West Coast later tonight.

Kaikoura is forecast to tip the scales at 18 today while Dunedin and Christchurch will only reach 14 degrees.

"Another great Labour Weekend Day," MetService tweeted this morning. "Don't forget to apply the sunscreen!

"You can almost taste summer with warm temperatures about central and northern parts of the country."

MetService meteorologist Tom Adams told the Herald it was lovely spring conditions today for most areas.

"Today's a pretty nice day for pretty much the whole country, with Hawke's Bay perhaps getting the worst of it. It's looking like a great long weekend."

There was plenty of sun but with a southerly airstream the country would avoid "ridiculously hot temperatures".

Tomorrow temperatures were looking slightly warmer, with Te Kuiti again tipped to top the mercury gauge with 22 degrees. Masterton, Whanganui and Palmerston North were also looking good for holiday makers.

Further south, Queenstown, Dunedin and Invercargill could expect slightly cooler temperatures, Adams said.

"Towns and cities should stay dry with the possible exception of Taranaki.
"In the North Island you'd be very unlucky to see any rain tomorrow."

FORECAST

Whangarei:
Today: Fine with southerlies dying out, high of 20
Tomorrow: Cloud increasing, few showers and northerlies developing, high of 20

Auckland:
Today: Fine with southerlies dying out, high of 19
Tomorrow, Cloud increasing, few showers and northerlies developing, high of 20

Tauranga:
Today: Fine with light winds, high of 20
Tomorrow: Cloud increasing, few showers and northerlies developing, high of 19

Napier:
Today: Cloudy periods, chance shower until evening. Southerlies, high of 17
Tomorrow: Cloud increasing. Northeasterlies developing, high of 19

New Plymouth:
Today: Fine with light winds and afternoon sea breezes, high of 17
Tomorrow: Cloud increasing, northerlies developing, high of 18

Wellington:
Today: Fine with light winds, high of 16
Tomorrow: Fine spells. Northerlies developing, high of 18