The high that is currently stretching over New Zealand will help prevent a tropical storm from coming our way for the long weekend, but it does come with a catch – cloud.

WeatherWatch.co.nz forecasters say the three day public holiday will see mostly dry weather across New Zealand and some areas will have plenty of sun – but some areas will not do so well with extensive cloud and drizzle.

Cloudiest regions will likely be in the east from Northland to Canterbury, including Auckland. 

Wettest regions are currently expected to be Gisborne and to a lesser degree, Northland and Hawkes Bay – with drizzle at times brought in by a constant east to south east wind.   It may not amount to much for many of you, but the risk is there for drizzle.

On Monday the risk of drizzle lifts from a 30% chance to 60% and may well turn to rain around Gisborne – although the data conflicts a bit here.  Overall our feeling is that the ingredients for drizzle, especially morning and night, exist along much of the North Island’s east coast, but the risk level is low to moderate – meaning the energy behind it all isn’t too strong.

The east to south east winds will dominate around coastal parts of the North Island’s east and north and will be more of a nor’easter in Canterbury. 

Cloudy weather will also continue to plague Auckland, which has only had three blue sky days so far this year.  But sunny weather is also in the mix, hopefully more than last weekend.

Humidity levels will also be high around much of NZ – but with some cooler winds coming in from the Pacific Ocean it may not feel too muggy.

Sunniest weather is likely to be inland and along the west coast – but there’s also a risk of isolated afternoon heat showers around the ranges.

All in all we’d give the long weekend a 7 out of 10 for outdoors weather.

Because the weather is looking a big changeable we’ll keep you posted across the long weekend, so check back for updates.

– Homepage image / File, Keith Morgan

– WeatherWatch.co.nz