Beaut long weekend of sunshine on offer for many
Holidaying Kiwis will be able to enjoy plenty of sun over Labour weekend.
However it was set to be a chilly start this morning and some popular spots in the South Island and the Far North could see cloud and the odd shower.
Calm, dry weather has been brought in by a high-pressure system replacing a front which brought a cold blast this week.
“With cold air in place behind the front and the high pressure clearing skies, we expect a sharp drop in overnight temperatures between Friday and Saturday. It will be a very chilly start to the long weekend with frost likely for many inland communities on Saturday morning,” MetService’s Luis Fernandes said.
Big swells on the water should ease over the weekend after stretching around the country yesterday.
“People planning on heading out should check local conditions on the MetService website before doing so,” Fernandes said.
Swells didn’t deter sailors in the PIC Coastal Classic Auckland to Russell yacht race yesterday.
Aucklanders lined the shoreline and a fleet of small boats and family cruisers gathered in the harbour to see the racers off from Devonport Wharf for the 40th anniversary of the 119-nautical mile drag race to the Bay of Islands.
Cloud is forecast for most of Northland today and tomorrow, but Paihia is in for showers this morning, clearing to a fine day and 17C. Auckland is in for three days of sunshine, with temperatures reaching 19C.
Fine weather is forecast for the Coromandel, lasting until Tuesday. A run of sunshine in the Bay of Plenty could see temperatures hit 22C on Monday.
Hawke’s Bay is in for weekend cloud but Napier could reach 23C by Monday. Queenstown should stay just under 20C and sunny until rain on Monday.
Showers are forecast for Fiordland and Westland tomorrow, with a new front from the south. Wet weather will settle in by Monday night and spread up the the South Island’s east coast.