A ridge lies over New Zealand on Saturday extending out from a large anticyclone east of the country. The ridge weakens on Sunday with a front gradually moving onto the lower South Island later in the day and a low to the northeast of the North Island moving closer.

A few showers for northeastern fringes of the North Island on Saturday, mostly sunny elsewhere. Mostly cloudy for the South Islands West Coast with rain or showers, drier and hot in the east.

A similar picture for the North Island on Sunday, some heavy rain possible about East Cape and Gisborne. Another dry day for the east coast of the South Island, some cloud in the west especially about South Westland where showers are looking more likely. Rain moves into South Westland overnight.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz