Weekend looking up

Manawatu residents may have been caught off guard by the sudden drop of temperature and the rise of cool winds, but this weekend is looking up.

MetService forecaster Tuporo Marsters said this weekend would be fine, apart from cloud developing late this morning.

There was a chance of some showers over the Tararua Ranges this morning, Mr Marsters said.

"Otherwise it is not too bad. Northwesterlies are going to be strong by [this] afternoon."

Today would reach a maximum of 20 degrees Celsius, and a low of 13C.

There would be cloud and north-westerly winds on Sunday, Mr Marsters said.

"They will push into the beginning of next week. It's going to be fine, a few cloudy periods and some light winds."

A strong westerly flow over New Zealand is expected to ease during Sunday as a ridge of pressure spreads onto the country. This ridge would persist over northern New Zealand on Monday and Tuesday while a strong northwest flow was forecast to develop over southern and central New Zealand ahead of an approaching front.

MetService said the front would move onto the deep south late Tuesday and cross the South Island and lower North Island on Wednesday.

- © Fairfax NZ News