The first weekend of Autumn looks to be mostly settled and dry despite a cool change for some South Islanders.

A cool south west change across Friday means Saturday might start with a few coastal showers from Dunedin around to Southland.  Dunedin has a high of 14 degrees on Saturday then up to 17 on Sunday.

The same cooler air flow will push into Canterbury, although it will be a few degrees warmer in Christchurch than Dunedin.

Wellington has southerlies fading on Saturday – with the risk of an early shower. Sunday sees the winds swing northerly again.

This weather pattern from Wellington southwards is already Autumnal – many would argue spring continued into January with only a brief period of hot, sunny, weather this month.  Despite the cooler change this weekend WeatherWatch.co.nz expects more hot, sunny, weather to move in across March – but certainly the cooler southerly changes will gradually become stronger as we head into Autumn.

Meanwhile further up the nation and Waikato is looking stunning this weekend with mainly clear skies (some cloud is possible) and highs around 22 or 23.

Tauranga and Bay of Plenty does even better with highs in the mid 20s and sunny skies.

For Auckland and Northland – more dry weather but an isolated shower is possible in the west. Highs in the low to mid 20s.

No helpful rain is in the forecast for our driest regions over the next few days.

– Image / File, Maketu (BOP) / Garith Farr

– WeatherWatch.co.nz