A southeasterly airflow lies over the North Island today, strong in the northeast. Meanwhile high pressure moves in over the South Island, says WeatherWatch.

MetService has issued a severe weather outlook on Saturday for the days ahead.

A low is forecast to lie east of Gisborne around midnight Saturday and to move southeast during Sunday, says a MetService spokesperson.

This low directs a moist and strong south to southeast flow across central and northern New Zealand.

Northland, Auckland, Waikato & Bay Of Plenty
Partly cloudy, rain for Coromandel and Bay Of Plenty, Auckland and Northland may have some rain then clearing in the afternoon but perhaps moving back in again later. Waikato could see showers late afternoon or evening also. Southeasterly winds, strong to gale for coastal Bay Of Plenty and eastern Coromandel.
Highs: 18-22

Western North Island (including Central North Island)
Any early spits clear then partly cloudy, the Central North Island may see more frequent showers during the day passing over from the east. Southeasterly winds gusty at times especially about the coast.
Highs: 13-22

Eastern North Island
Cloudy with rain or showers, rain for Hawkes Bay and Gisborne looks to be heavy especially later. Fresh to strong southeasterlies, gales possible about the coast especially East Cape.
Highs: 16-18

Wellington
Morning showers clear then sunny spells increase. Southeasterly winds.
Highs: 16-17

Marlborough & Nelson
A few light showers for Marlborough clear in the morning, afternoon sunny spells may break through. Morning cloud for Nelson breaks to sunny weather. Southeasterly winds.
Highs: 15-18

Canterbury
Cloudy areas, chance of a shower or two then sunny areas increasing from afternoon. East to northeasterly winds.
Highs: 14-15

West Coast
Sunny with light winds.
Highs: 15-19

Southland & Otago
A mix of sun and cloud for Southland, Otago is sunny, a cold start inland. Light winds tend onshore in the afternoon.
Highs: 13-14

Heavy rain warnings and watches are currently in force for parts of the North Island associated with this low pressure system. The low is followed by a strengthening and moist north to northeast flow over New Zealand.

There is high confidence of warning amounts of rain for Gisborne and Hawke's Bay early Sunday. Then from Monday through to Wednesday, there is low confidence a heavy rain warning will be required for Mount Taranaki, Tasman west of Motueka, Buller and Westland. Then on Wednesday, there is low confidence of warning amounts of rain for Waitomo, Taumarunui, northern Taranaki including the Mountain and the Tararua Range.

On Tuesday, a low is forecast to approach the South Island from the northwest and becomes slow moving there through Wednesday. This system is expected to direct a south to southeast flow across the lower South Island. There is low confidence of warning amounts of rain falling in Southland and eastern parts of Otago on Tuesday.