A high sits out to the east today directing an east to northeasterly airflow over New Zealand.

"Cyclone Ilsa made landfall in Western Australia early Friday as a powerful recording breaking cyclone but NZ has a powerful anti-cyclone which will dominate our weather for the coming week ahead," says a WeatherWatch spokesperson.

"The anti-cyclone - or high pressure zone - will be parked to our east and will grow in size in the coming days.

"This, coupled with a low in the Tasman Sea and lows in the tropics, will help produce a warmer than average week next week for all of NZ. Northerly quarter winds will dominate for several days. Windy nor'easters will be the theme for some regions in the north of the country."

In Australia Ilsa was still a Severe Tropical Cyclone - Cat3 - when WeatherWatch recorded their ' Powerful anticyclone to bring sub-tropical air to NZ next week' video, but will likely lose its tropical cyclone status by Saturday at the latest.

Ilsa broke an Australian record for highest sustained 10 minute winds, which clocked in at 218km per hour, breaking the 2007 record which was in the 190km per hour range.

"Note this is sustained winds, not gusts - which were estimated to be closer to 240km per hour or higher. Australia has some unsettled weather this weekend - but conditions ease next week as the next high from the Indian Ocean moves in," says a WeatherWatch spokesperson.

A high sits out to the east today directing an east to northeasterly airflow over New Zealand.

Northland, Auckland, Waikato & Bay Of Plenty
Cloudy periods, a few light showers in the east just north of Auckland but spreading down into Coromandel overnight. Waikato and Bay Of Plenty should see longer sunny areas during the day. Fresh gusty easterlies.
Highs: 19-21

Western North Island (including Central North Island)
Mostly sunny, a touch of high cloud. The Central Plateau has some cloud at times passing over from the east, cooler temperatures too. East to southeasterly winds.
Highs: 15-21

Eastern North Island
A few showers, dry spells increase from afternoon and a few sunny spells may even break through, east to southeasterly winds.
Highs: 17-19

Wellington
Mostly sunny, some cloud at times. East to southeasterly winds.
Highs: 18-19

Marlborough & Nelson
Any morning cloud and showers for Marlborough breaks to sunny spells, Nelson has a sunny day but there may be some high cloud. East to southeasterly winds.
Highs: 16-19

Canterbury
Morning coastal cloud breaks to increasing sun, a few mist or fog patches inland to start then sunny there. East to northeasterly winds freshen up in the afternoon especially near the coast, lighter winds inland.
Highs: 16-17

West Coast
Sunny with light winds, a touch of high cloud especially in the north.
Highs: 20-22

Southland & Otago
Sunny with light east to northeasterly winds. Coastal Otago has sunny weather too but there could be some early clearing cloud, also winds are a bit fresher from the northeast in the afternoon.
Highs: 17-20