Days of sunshine to follow week of torrential rain

At last fine weather is in store for the country. Photo / NZME

As the clean-up continues across regions hard-hit by last week's Tasman tempest the weather is offering a reprieve for those drying out waterlogged property.

MetService says relief is finally arriving to the worst-affected areas of the North Island with sunny skies across most of the country by Wednesday.

But before the promised fine spell, a pesky southerly will bring scattered rain to the lower and eastern North Island and southerly gales for coastal areas from Wellington to Gisborne.

The high would then stay parked over New Zealand through to the weekend, apart from a brief interruption late Friday and Saturday as a weak front brought showers to southern and eastern areas.

"Although southwest winds may usher in the odd light shower over Auckland and Northland through to Tuesday, there is good news for these waterlogged areas as a large high in the Tasman Sea brings fine weather across most of New Zealand by mid-week," said MetService Meteorologist Heath Gullery.

"This high is going to bring welcome relief to much of the North Island this week, meaning folks in the upper North island who have taken the brunt of the recent bad weather can now focus on the clean-up without the threat of further inclement weather."

Gullery said the fine weather would also usher a return to autumnal temperatures, with cooler nights and warm days.

Breezy southwest winds today bring passing clouds and the risk of a shower for #Aucklandhttps://t.co/tks2Q4pbWD ^Cam pic.twitter.com/fkEIqNpMCT

— MetService (@MetService) March 13, 2017

By late Friday a front would move onto the far south of the South Island and make its way to the top of the country during Saturday.

At this stage severe weather was not expected from the front.

Today's forecast

Auckland: Showers clearing by evening. 21C
Hamilton: Showers clearing by evening. 21C
Wellington:Showers easing by evening. Strong southerlies 15C
Christchurch:Rain esing to shows. Southwesterlies 15C
Dunedin: Mostly cloudy, a few showers. Southerlies 15C