The arrival of spring westerlies will bring warmer temperatures this weekend, but the winds could reach gale strength in the South.
For northern New Zealand, a burst of rain coming through tonight should easy by early Sunday morning, Philip Duncan, of Weatherwatch, said.
"Most places on Saturday in the North Island and eastern side of the South Island should be dry or mainly dry, just could be a little shower lingering here and there," he said.
However, Sunday could bring some wild weather as very strong westerly quarter winds hit the South island.
MetService says the strongest winds are expected about Canterbury, Otago and Southland, where damaging gusts of 150-160kmh or possibly more in exposed places are expected.
Winds of this strength could damage trees, bring down powerlines and make travel hazardous.
"As we go into Sunday that's the feature, the big spring westerlies, that have been running late this year, finally arrived about two or three weeks late but they're here," Mr Duncan said.
Tempatures remained average for this time of year, he said, reaching the mid to late teens in most places and the low teens in the South Island.
And it really is getting warmer overall - summer is definitely on the way.
"We've seen temperatures the last few days getting into the twenties, when you start seeing that in September, it's a sign Spring's fully here and I think that we are going to see bigger temperatures as we go into October."
Weekend forecast
• Dunedin: Sunny areas and high cloud tomorrow, possible showers in evening. On Sunday, increasing high cloud and a few spits of rain in the afternoon. High of 20 degrees tomorrow and 21 on Sunday.
• Auckland and Hamilton: Early showers tomorrow, then cloudy areas with westerly winds on Sunday. High of 17 degrees tomorrow and 19 on Sunday
• Wellington: Mainly sunny by midday tomorrow with southerlies dying out. Cloudy areas with north to nor'westerly winds, possibly gale-froce later in day. High of 15 degrees tomorrow and 17 on Sunday.
• Christchurch: Mainly sunny with northerly winds building in the afternoon tomorrow. On Sunday, high cloud, nor'westerly winds and possible gales after midday. Highs of 19 degrees tomorrow and 22 on Sunday.
