Weekend to bring warmer weather

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Don't be discouraged by today's rain - this weekend will bring warmer temperatures thanks to the arrival of spring westerlies.

For northern New Zealand, a burst of rain coming through tonight should easy by early Sunday morning, Philip Duncan of Weatherwatch said.

"Most places on Saturday in the North Island and eastern side of the South Island should be dry or mainly dry, just could be a little shower lingering here and there," he said.

However, Sunday could bring some wild weather as very strong westerly quarter winds hit the South island. Gales could reach hurricane force, so keep an eye out for wind warnings from Met Service.

Tempatures remain average for this time of year, he said, reaching the mid to late teens in most places and the low teens in the South Island.

"As we go into Sunday that's the feature, the big spring westerlies, that have been running late this year, finally arrived about two or three weeks late but they're here," Mr Duncan said.

Eastern New Zealand is likely the benefit the most from these westerlies, especially on Sunday as the winds really pick up.

And it really is getting warmer overall - summer is definitely on the way.

"We've seen temperatures the last few days getting into the twenties, when you start seeing that in September, it's a sign Spring's fully here and I think that we are going to see bigger temperatures as we go into October."

• Auckland and Hamilton: Early showers tomorrow, then cloudy areas with westerly winds on Sunday. High of 17 degrees tomorrow and 19 on Sunday

• Wellington: Mainly sunny by midday tomorrow with southerlies dying out. Cloudy areas with north to nor'westerly winds, possibly gale-froce later in day. High of 15 degrees tomorrow and 17 on Sunday.

• Christchurch: Mainly sunny with northerly winds building in the afternoon tomorrow. On Sunday, high cloud, nor'westerly winds and possible gales after midday. Highs of 19 degrees tomorrow and 22 on Sunday.

• Dunedin: Sunny areas and high cloud tomorrow, possible showers in evening. On Sunday, increasing high cloud and a few spits of rain in the afternoon. High of 20 degrees tomorrow and 21 on Sunday.