Weather forecast: Chilly nights, sunny skies for weekend

Suffolk lambs at Mt Albert Grammar School soak up the sunshine. Photo / Supplied

By Vaimoana Tapaleao

Spring time is near, with sunny skies, but chilly nights are forecast to welcome the weekend.

The MetService says a high pressure will dominate over the country over the next few days, which will result in a whole lot of sunshine during the day but very cold temperatures during the night.

Minor showers are forecast along the east coast of the North Island and the Kaikoura coast today. Much of the country is expected to bask in the sun tomorrow, save for rain on the West Coast later in the evening thanks to a front moving over the area.

High pressure persists 2mrw. Fine apart from frosty start 4 most places. Showers continue 2 affect E of cent NZ. https://t.co/hnwmGxU1gR ^CD pic.twitter.com/87SmACVw5T

— MetService (@MetService) August 3, 2017

Aucklanders will wake up to a fine day today, with a temperature high of 13C and an overnight low of 5C.

Those in Hamilton will see sunny conditions also, with a high of 13C and an overnight low of 1C.

There are similar temperatures in Tauranga, except for an overnight low of 5C and some south-easterly breezes.

It is a bit colder in Wellington, where the high is 9C today, and there will be cloudy periods and the odd light shower before becoming fine this evening.

While Christchurch and Dunedin will see mostly fine days today and through to the weekend, with temperature highs ranging from 9C before turning up the heat at 16C, in both places, on Sunday.

The MetService said yesterday there was a "moderate confidence rainfall accumulations could reach warning criteria" about Fiordland and Westland south of Otira.

At Mt Albert Grammar School, new life has already arrived, with Spring just around the corner.

A total of 12 Suffolk lambs have been born this season, including a set of twins. Eight more new arrivals are expected soon.