A slowly developing sub-tropical low is already sending down cloud across the upper North Island, but WeatherWatch.co.nz forecasters aren’t predicting days of rain ahead, like some apps & forecasters are.

A large blocking high remains firmly in charge of the South Island and much of the North Island – it is more powerful than the low and will hold it up until the weekend for most northern places.

While nor’east winds may build over the next few days, and a few showers may pop up, the general rain band will lie mostly out at sea until about Saturday morning for the Far North and Sunday for more populated areas like Auckland and Bay of Plenty.

On Sunday the narrow, patchy, rain band will move south into parts of Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty with a few heavy falls possible in the east, in places like Coromandel Peninsula.

At this stage WeatherWatch.co.nz says rainfall amounts don’t look too serious, but the slow moving and sub-tropical nature of the low means it’s still one to watch, however the high does look as though it’s going to do a fairly good job at blocking this low and rain bands for most parts of New Zealand this week and into the weekend.

Strong east to north east winds will also move south on Sunday, bringing gusty conditions to the eastern Waikato and to marine areas in the north – but damage isn’t currently predicted.

See our wind and rain maps for more details.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz