Weekend weather forecast: Fine Saturday before cold, wet change Sunday
Summer in New Zealand will end with a fine and calm day for most of the country, but the weather is set to become more active as autumn begins.
A severe thunderstorm watch had been placed on central and eastern parts of the North Island yesterday by MetService, but much of that wet weather will clear away.
However, parts of Auckland are expected to experience some rainfall throughout the day with some showers predicted in the morning for the City of Sails and a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon which should clear into the evening.
Meanwhile, Whangārei should see showers develop late in the morning, which could turn heavy and thundery as the day progresses and Kaitāia is expected to experience similar conditions.
Despite the wet weather, these places are expected to have some of the highest temperatures across the country with Kaitāia reaching a high of 25C and Auckland and Whangārei having predicted highs of 24C.
The temperature starts to dip moving south as overnight temperatures are expected to be as low as 4C or 5C in parts of the South Island, including Alexandra, Twizel and Ashburton.
Saturday should be a fine day overall for the lower half of the North Island and the South Island, but a surge of cold air is due on Sunday as a rain-bearing front makes its way up the country as far as Palmerston North.
This front should then make its way across the rest of the North Island on Monday.
The start of next week is predicted to be much wetter and windier with highs of 13C in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
The first tropical cyclone of the Southwest Pacific season has also formed, and was named Tropical Cyclone Urmil.
🌀 First Tropical Cyclone of the Southwest Pacific season forms.
— MetService NZ (@MetService) February 27, 2026
Tropical Cyclone Urmil has just been named, located over Vanuatu as a Category 1 system.
Once the system moves beyond Vanuatu, it is forecast to head into the open ocean. It is not expected to affect New Zealand. pic.twitter.com/2o6sWlrmin
MetService posted on social media that it was over Vanuatu on Friday afternoon as a Category 1 system.
After it moves away from Vanuatu, it should move into the open ocean and not impact New Zealand.