Weekend weather: Scorcher on the way

Summer is coming at last. Photo / Doug Sherring /

After a mixed and windy spell across most of the country, New Zealand is set to bask in sunshine over the next few days.

And tomorrow looks like it could bring the best weather we have had in months, WeatherWatch analyst Aaron Wilkinson said.

Temperatures are tipped to hit the high 20s and could soar to 30C-plus in Hawke's Bay and other areas of the east of the North Island.

"There might be a bit of cloud around in the mornings in places like Auckland," Wilkinson said. "But it will soon clear up and a fine weekend is expected for most of the country.

"Conditions have not been great so far this summer but February and March are statistically our most level months and hopefully this year will be no different."

From Northland to Manawatu, including Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and the central high country, it is expected to be mainly fine despite areas of cloud this evening and tomorrow morning (Saturday).

Horowhenua, Kapiti Coast, Wellington and Wairarapa have had cloudy periods today with drizzle about the Tararua Range but this too is tipped to clear up by tomorrow morning.

The North Island will have mostly fine weather, with highs in the mid- to late-20s for some spots.

"The Bay of Plenty and some inland areas of the Waikato could hit 27C over the weekend and Hawke's Bay and Gisborne could reach the early 30s," Wilkinson said.

For Aucklanders, Anniversary Day on Monday is expected to be fine with light winds.

That's good news for the many events on in the city this weekend, including the Laneway Festival and the Buskers Festival in the CBD, Chinese New Year celebrations, and the Black Caps v Australia ODI at Eden Park on Monday.

"Saturday should be good for most areas, with Fiordland the only place that's likely to get rain," MetService meteorologist Kyle Lee said.

"Sunday should be pretty good too. Most of the North Island will be good, with just the Tararua Ranges and eastern Bay of Plenty expected to get some rain."

Another front is expected over the South Island, bringing showers to Southland, Westland and Nelson/Buller on Sunday. Canterbury should escape the rain, but it will be overcast.

Monday should be mostly warm and dry, though the Wellington and Wairarapa regions could get rain early in the day. The east coast of the North Island could also get a couple of afternoon or evening showers.