Anzac Day will have the best weather of the long weekend, according to MetService.
MetService meteorologist Emma Blades said most of the country would have some rain over the weekend but it will have mostly cleared by Monday.
"There's a front over the South Island at the moment which will move up the country tomorrow," she said.
"There's a severe weather warning in place for Westland and there may be heavy rain at Mt Taranaki and in the ranges.
"There'll be rain in Wellington tonight and scattered rain around the rest of the North Island."
Both islands should experience sunny spells as well, she said.
"It will be pretty good tomorrow, especially around the South Island once the front moves off and begins to deteriorate.
"Severe gales are possible off the coasts of Clutha and Dunedin tomorrow morning but they should leave by the afternoon.
"There'll be plenty of sunshine on Monday, bringing fairly warm temperatures."
Hawke's Bay would be the best holiday spot this weekend, she said.
"Hawke's Bay would be my pick of a place to go. It's sunny there today with temperatures expected to reach the mid 20s and just a bit of rain which is scattered."
Meanwhile, WeatherWatch is expecting the front over the South Island to move to the lower North Island overnight, bringing a breezy to strong northwest airflow.
The airflow will become cooler once a southwest change moves through, according to WeatherWatch.
Main centres outlook
Dunedin
Today: Morning rain with few showers from afternoon. Southwest change. High 16C. Tomorrow: Mostly sunny, late high cloud. Northerly developing. High 17C. Monday: Sunny breaks developing. Strong southwest easing. High 16C.
Auckland
Today: Cloudy periods with possible showers. Northerly breezes. High 21C. Tomorrow: Showers turning to rain, clearing late. Southwest change. High 20C. Monday: Long sunny spells developing. Southwesterlies. High 21C.
Hamilton
Today: Cloudy periods with possible evening showers. Light winds. High 21C. Tomorrow: Showers turning to rain, clearing in the evening. Southwest change. High 19C. Monday: Long sunny spells developing. Southwesterlies. High 21C.
Tauranga
Today: Cloudy periods, few evening showers. High 20C. Tomorrow: Few showers, rain in the afternoon which clears late. Southwest change. High 20C. Monday: Long sunny spells. Southwest winds easing. High 21C.
Wellington
Today: A few showers then late rain. Strong northerlies. High 18C. Tomorrow: Early rain then sunny spells developing. Southerly change. High 17C. Monday: Long sunny spells developing. Brief southerly change. High 18C.
Christchurch
Today: High cloud with possible showers. High 19C. Tomorrow: Early showers becoming fine. Northerly developing. High 16C. Monday: Becoming sunny. Early southwest change then northwest developing. High 16C.
-- Source: MetService
