King's Birthday Weekend will see more settled weather across much of the country - a relief to many after this week's storms.
MetService meteorologist John Law said temperatures will be milder than during the week, especially in eastern parts of the country, where Hastings could reach a high of 23C and Christchurch 21C on Saturday.
Auckland may get some rain early on Sunday but will otherwise be calm with temperatures reaching 19C on Sunday.
The South Island will be windier and wetter, but warmer - and there are several watches and warnings in place for Saturday:
- Marlborough - strong wind watch
- Canterbury High Country - strong wind warning, gusts of 120km/h
- Westland - Heavy Rain Watch
- Inland Canterbury Plains - strong wind watch
- Fiordland, western Southland, Stewart Island - strong wind warning, gusts of 120km/h; heavy rain watch
- Queenstown Lakes District, central Otago, inland Southland and Clutha - strong wind watch
- Coastal Southland, Clutha and Dunedin - strong wind watch
- There is also a strong wind watch in place for Wellington and Wairarapa on Saturday.
El Niño over, La Niña coming - NIWA's winter outlook
NIWA has issued its winter outlook and said the El Niño weather pattern responsible for recent westerly winds and long dry spells has given way to neutral conditions.
It said temperatures are likely to be near or above average across the country, with warmer than average temperatures expected in the first half of June.
Cold snaps "will likely be brief" during winter.
The west of the South Island could be wetter than usual, with rainfall expected to be either normal or above normal. The rest of the country could be drier than usual, with normal or below normal rainfall expected.
There is a chance of a "heavy rainfall event" in the North Island and northern South Island in the second week of June.
NIWA said there is a 60-70 percent chance of La Niña developing over spring, which would bring rain to northeast parts of the North Island, and drier conditions to the lower and western South Island, as well as warmer than average air and sea temperatures.
