The settled weather is over for New Zealand as a frontal system moves onto New Zealand on Saturday.
MetService says "rain, wind and cold temperatures" are on the cards through the weekend - and has issued severe weather watches for the top of the Far North and areas of the East Coast.
On Saturday afternoon and evening a front will move slowly eastwards over the northern and central North Island, bringing with it a band of rain.
There's a low risk of isolated thunderstorms over the northern and central North Island as well as around inland Tasman/Nelson and Buller.
Then on Sunday the instability increases as a broad low-pressure system brings more unsettled weather to the North Island.
"There is mostly a low risk of thunderstorms developing from Taumarunui to Bay of Plenty and northwards, however over Northland and northern Auckland the risk of thunderstorms increases to moderate during the morning. These thunderstorms if they occur have the potential to bring localised heavy rain with intensities of 10 to 25mm/h, and hail 5 to 15mm in diameter," MetService warned.
In the afternoon and evening, there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms from Taumarunui to Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne, and also northwards to Northland.
"These thunderstorms if they occur have the potential to bring localised heavy rain with intensities of 10 to 25mm/h, and hail 5 to 15mm in diameter," MetService added
"Additionally, about Waikato, the western Bay of Plenty and the Coromandel Peninsula, there is a low risk that any thunderstorms that develop could become severe, bringing localised downpours of 25 to 40mm/h."
MetService has issued several severe weather watches for the weekend:
Strong Wind Watches
Northland north of Kaitāia: 11am - 5pm Sun. West to southwest winds may approach severe gales in exposed places.
Bay of Plenty east of Whakatāne: 9pm Sun - 9am Mon. Southeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.
Heavy Rain Watch
The Wairoa District, and Tairāwhiti/Gisborne south of Gisborne City: 6am - 8pm Sun. A period of heavy rain is possible. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria, especially about the ranges.
