Depending on where you are this weekend you may enjoy some sunny, mild, weather, some heavy rain, or possibly gloomy skies with just a bit of drizzle.  The messy forecast is due to another low over the North Island – the third consecutive weekend with one.

Unlike the previous two lows, this one didn’t form in the tropics – instead it is today quickly deepening west of the country over the Tasman.

Surrounded by high pressure the low continues to deepen, but not for long.  “It’s a bit like digging a hole in dry white sand, it keeps trying to fill back in – same with this low, it’s trying to deepen but the highs surrounding it are choking off its chances” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.  “This means we’re not expecting much in the way of severe weather but perhaps another gloomy, wet, weekend for some”.

The bulk of the rain will affect northern and western areas of North Island and the upper South Island to begin with on Friday afternoon and evening.

By Saturday much of the rain is now sliding down the east coast of both islands, bringing rain, showers or drizzle along with nor’east winds and sunny spells increasing further in the west. Saturday morning may be quite sunny for some to start with.

During Saturday afternoon the low heads northwards towards Auckland and northern New Zealand, bringing a period of patchy rain or showers on Saturday PM.

Many western areas of both islands will be dry on Saturday but spits of rain may spill over onto the West Coast.

And by Sunday there may be a few morning showers or early rain in northern NZ as the low clears to the east – and continues to weaken, otherwise Sunday could be quite sunny for northern and western areas. Rain may continue, with the nor’easters for Canterbury and Marlborough – but the timing is unclear this far out – some dry spells may also move in to eastern areas.

Our region nearest the Southern Ocean will likely be the driest this weekend – Southland.

Image / Sunset on a departing front in Auckland / Philip Duncan

– WeatherWatch.co.nz