Many of us are hoping for good weather, but expect both dry and wet spells over the four-day weekend, says Philip Duncan.

Good news for holidaymakers coming up: this high is our third big one this month and another high looks likely to move in.

Dust is again going to be a problem for Christchurch later today and again tomorrow as winds pick back up again.

I can't help but think the forecasters in New Zealand have it easy compared to our Aussie neighbours...at least this summer anyway.

It's been incredibly busy weather-wise for the past month but conditions are going to be a little more settled this week for most New Zealanders and Australians.

Wilma has now well and truly gone, absorbed into the roaring 40s to bring more gales and rain to the South Ocean.

Another weekend and meh, another cyclone.

I've had a fascination with tropical storms since I was a kid. I love so much about them. Their unpredictability. Their power. Their names. (Hurricane Igor last year has got to be one of the best).

The cause of today's flooding in Brisbane is very different to the devastating floods in Toowoomba yesterday.

Back on January 1 authorities said Queensland was facing a flood of "biblical proportions". Now, almost two weeks later, and it's hard to fathom that the "worst is yet to come" as unprecedented flooding hits the drought ravaged region.

For this week at least, New Zealand will remain in an isolated bubble of dry, high air pressure but this low to the north will certainly be one to watch.

The weather for NZ this weekend looks likely to be dry and sunny for most, as more high pressure builds to the west of us and starts to push in.

Another significant shift in our weather pattern may be arriving as soon as Friday.

There's nothing I like more than a cloudy, possibly wet, New Year's Eve - followed by a cloudless blue skied New Year's Day.

Santa Claus is coming to town - and the weather is looking fantastic for his long ride down from the North Pole.