Your weather: Morning rain today, cold weather returning tomorrow

Kiwis are waking to drizzling rain and warmer temperatures this morning ahead of a new cold change hitting on the weekend.

New Plymouth was the country's wettest town early this morning with 3.8mm falling, MetService said.

Alexandra was the coldest with a low of -2.2C at 5.30am, while Whitianga was the warmest with a low of 15.7C.

Wellington was one of the windiest spots with a 33km/h wind at Lyall Bay.

Rain, snow a mild Friday then things start to get colder going into next week (+3 Maps) https://t.co/RJPxAUsLUH via @weatherwatchnz

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) June 20, 2019

Fellow forecaster WeatherWatch said rainfall levels shouldn't be too heavy today and that most regions can expect warmer than average temperatures - apart from the Southern Alps where snow is set to fall.

But a cooler change is on its way, blowing in on Saturday and pushing temperatures down into next week.

On the plus side, many regions will see sunny skies next week, WeatherWatch said.

Aucklanders can expect occasional showers this morning before a fine afternoon and top of 17C, MetService said.

After that cold start to June, temperatures have recovered nicely 📈

The next few weeks look to have plenty of sunshine ☀️ pic.twitter.com/bsS2SUmGGQ

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) June 20, 2019

A cloudy Saturday with a top of 15C is then forecast before the rain returns on Sunday with a top of 15C as well.

Whangārei, Tauranga and Napier are all set for tops of 18C today with morning rain clearing to fine afternoons. Rainfall in Tauranga may be heavy, however.

Hamilton and New Plymouth are also set for morning showers and fine afternoons with tops of 17C and 16C.

Residents in Wellington are in for a top of 14C with a rainy morning and cloudy afternoon.

In the South Island, Christchurch and Dunedin residents can enjoy sunny days with highs of 15C and 13C.

Maximum temperatures over much of the North Island were in the low to mid-teens today, but Whangarei and Whanganui came out on top with the country's high of 17C. It was a cold day down south, Alexandra recorded New Zealand's lowest maximum temperature today, with just+1C. ^AB pic.twitter.com/nyzjoRMwb2

— MetService (@MetService) June 20, 2019

Today's weather

Whangārei: Occasional rain, clearing to fine spells by this afternoon as winds change southwest. High 17C, Low 8C

Auckland: Cloudy, with a few showers turning to rain afternoon. Northeasterlies strengthening in the morning. High 16C, Low 12C

Hamilton: Occasional rain, clearing afternoon to fine spells. Winds turn southwest. High 17C, Low 4C

Tauranga: Rain, possibly heavy at times, clearing afternoon. High 18C, Low 6C

Rotorua: Rain, clearing in the afternoon. Northerlies changing southwest. High 15C, Low 4C

New Plymouth: Rain easing to a few showers in the morning, and clearing afternoon. High 16C, Low 5C

Napier: Rain at times, clearing in the afternoon and becoming fine. High 18C, Low 3C

Whanganui: Rain at times, clearing late morning and fine spells developing. High 17C, Low 7C

Wellington: Rain clearing by late morning, but remaining partly cloudy. High 14C, Low 8C

Nelson: Rain before dawn, then a fine day. Southwest breezes. High 15C, Low 3C

Christchurch: Fine. Northerlies. High 15C, Low 2C

Dunedin: Fine. Northerlies. High 13C, Low 4C