Wet and wild weather for holiday weekend

Another long weekend, another lousy forecast.

The weather forecast for Labour weekend suggests those planning a camping trip should perhaps reconsider.

Though tomorrow is expected to be fine and sunny throughout most of the North Island - even melting the snow that fell on the Desert Road last night - high winds and showers will arrive on Sunday.

And they should last right through Labour Day on Monday, with gale-force winds forecast for the Wellington area to round off the long weekend.

MetService's advice for those looking for an early start to summer? Head north.

"It's going to be very windy, with showers," forecaster Melanie Graham said.

"It's going to be pretty normal spring weather ... It can be a very unsettled time of the year."

The high winds are expected to cause problems on central New Zealand roads.

A caution was issued for the Desert Road yesterday, with temperatures falling to 3 degrees celsius in Waiouru.

Northwesterly winds will spring up in many places tomorrow.

Ms Graham said the best places for would-be campers included Bay of Plenty and the Coromandel.

"Most of the South Island you should probably avoid. The further north the better."

- © Fairfax NZ News