New Zealand's weekend weather: a soggy north, sunny in the south

Auckland on Sunday is predicted to be partly cloudy with a few afternoon showers, but a forecaster hopes the city will be dry for the ASB Auckland marathon. Photo / 123rf

It's looking like a tough weekend for getting the washing to dry in much of the country, except the south, where a good dose of sun is expected.

A big high-pressure zone is drifting across the country, but in the north a soggy front lingers.

"The South Island pretty much is the place to be this weekend, high pressure really dominating the situation down there," said MetService meteorologist John Law.

"Some of the best spots are likely to be somewhere like Queenstown and Alexandra where it should stay dry through the weekend and the temperatures really picking back up again so by the end of the weekend, highs there of 24 to 25C."

The front in the north should weaken during the weekend, but it would continue to deliver cloud and showers to many areas, although temperatures would be mild or even warm.

Law said Wellington was likely to be one of the North Island's bright spots, staying dry tomorrow, but with cloud on Sunday.

Runners taking part in the ASB Auckland marathon events on Sunday can, on MetService's current forecast, expect a partly cloudy day with a few afternoon showers, northeasterly breezes and a high of 21C.

"Hopefully it will stay dry for the race itself," Law said.

MetService forecast

Auckland
Tomorrow
Mostly cloudy with occasional rain, easing evening. Light winds. 19C
Sunday
Partly cloudy, a few afternoon showers. Northeasterly breezes. 21C

Hamilton
Tomorrow
Mostly cloudy with a few showers. Light winds. 18C
Sunday
Cloudy periods, occasional showers. Northeast breezes. 20C

Tauranga
Tomorrow
Mostly cloudy. Showers turn to rain late morning. Light winds. 18C
Sunday
Often cloudy, showers ease evening. Northeast breezes. 18C

Wellington
Tomorrow
Fine with occasional high cloud. Light winds. 19C
Sunday
Cloud increasing, chance afternoon shower. Northerlies developing. 18C

Christchurch
Tomorrow
Mainly fine, some morning cloud. Northeasterly breezes. 18C
Sunday
Fine with northeast breezes. 22C

Dunedin
Tomorrow
Morning and evening cloud, otherwise fine. Light winds. 16 C
Sunday
Mostly sunny but some morning cloud. Northeast breezes. 21C