There is good news for Kiwis planning a beach trip this long weekend with warm and sunny days on the cards for much of the country.
MetService meteorologist Angus Hines said most people are for a treat this long weekend, but warned some should expect wind and rain on Monday.
"The weather overall this long weekend is fantastic around the motu, around pretty much the entirety of Aotearoa," Hines told AM on Friday.
"There is some good sunshine and temperatures, particularly on Saturday and Sunday. Things change a little on Monday… We get some rain onto and up parts of the South Island. Looking at both sides of the Southern Alps really. So it could get a bit wet to finish the long weekend through the likes of Fiordland and Westland, as well as Dunedin and maybe into Christchurch on Monday afternoon and evening."
But Hines said the entire country can expect nice weather on Saturday and Sunday.
"That's pretty much the story - long sunny afternoons on Saturday and Sunday and honestly, for a lot of people on Monday as well but in the South Island maybe have that indoor plan for the end of the long weekend," he said.
Hines also revealed the warmest, coldest and wettest places to be this weekend, along with his top pick.
The warmest areas of the country will be in the South Island with some cities expected to reach as high as 25C.
"The warmest places this weekend look to be on the eastern South Island throughout Sunday afternoon. People from the area will know what I mean when I say this, but we are getting that warm northeast wind through the region. The top spots could be touching on 25C and that's Blenheim and Ashburton," Hines said.
As for the coldest, Taupō, Masterton and Christchurch are in for a chilly start to Labour weekend.
"A lot of places are going to be a little chilly on Saturday morning first thing. A few spots in particular at about that zero C mark and looking at a frost as well. So I am going to say Taupō, Masterton and Christchurch.
"We are talking about zero C and that's quite cold for the time of year… you would expect warmer mornings than that."
Meanwhile, the wettest area is also in the South Island, with Fiordland in for rain on Monday - although it's the only spot across the country getting any "significant rain" this weekend. As for the windiest, Hines said Central Otago takes that prize.
And the overall top spot went to a classic, with Hines revealing if he could be anywhere this weekend it would be the Bay of Plenty.
"There are a lot of places vying for the top spot with the beautiful weather around the country. I am a proud Wellington boy, I would love it to be us but I don't think we can quite claim that this weekend so I am going to go with the old cliche, but it's a cliche for a reason, Bay of Plenty - lots of sunshine, warm afternoons, barely a breath of wind," he said.
