This chilly Easter weekend could feature "bursts of severe weather" with gales potentially knocking out power - just what you need while stuck indoors.
The upcoming weekend will be New Zealand's third while under nationwide lockdown, which requires Kiwis to stay indoors unless they need essential services or to go out for exercise.
But it's also Easter, meaning more people will be off work on Friday and Monday looking for things to do to avoid going stir-crazy inside. Officials have warned against making a trip away, saying it is crucial that people keep to the rules to avoid spreading COVID-19.
NIWA's Chris Brandolino says if you do decide to go out for recreation or to the supermarket, things are "looking good" - but not all weekend.
"Three out of the four weekend days should be pretty good. Even today, if you want to get out and about and walk around, you may have to duck a few showers in the North Island, but generally speaking, the first three days look pretty good," he told The AM Show.
It's Easter Sunday evening and Easter Monday when things get stormy, Brandolino says.
"As we basically open the books on a new week, albeit a public holiday, Easter Monday, very windy conditions. For those who want to get outside on Monday, it is going to be windy, certainly much colder, there could be some pretty heavy rain on Sunday night across the South Island," he says.
"Even the North Island, what is probably going to happen, the timing is a bit up-in-the-air but I think sometime near midnight, so people are sleeping, into very early Monday morning… across the Northland, there will be a burst of rain and wind, maybe some thunder, as a front moves on through. That may get you up.
"Monday itself looks to be pretty windy and blustery [and] a cool, if not chilly, week ahead next week."
WeatherWatch is painting a similar picture, with head forecaster Philip Duncan saying the whole weekend isn't stormy "but it's unsettled with a burst of severe weather in some regions on Sunday and Monday".
Gusts on Sunday evening could reach up to 150km/h in some exposed areas in the south, while Monday is "colder and windy nationwide", at least in the morning.
"It's possible winds on Sunday or Monday may be strong enough in some places to knock out power. With COVID-19 meaning most of us are in lockdown at home, it's worth thinking about what supplies you may need should the weather become more severe than forecast this Sunday and Monday," WeatherWatch says.
"For the most part, winds will be below damaging but this system is very large with many moving parts. Being prepared helps lower anxiety."
Metservice says Friday is the best of the bunch for an Easter egg hunt, with just the odd shower hanging over the far north of the country.
"During Saturday, an active front is forecast to approach the country, preceded by strong winds and rain. This front will bring wet weather as it moves up the country during Sunday and into Monday. There could be some severe weather associated with this front."
