Thunderstorms are being predicted for the Eastern Bay of Plenty this Saturday,

MetService is forecasting a ridge of high pressure to bring settled weather to much of the country this weekend, in time for school holidays and the start of Daylight Saving.

'A ridge of high pressure builds from the Tasman Sea over the country on Friday," says MetService meteorologist Andy Best.

"It moves northeast over the North Island on Saturday delivering mostly fine weather, apart from the chance of isolated afternoon showers over the central North Island, and the chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms about the ranges of Eastern Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay.

'However, most traditional holiday spots from Bay of Plenty and Coromadel Peninsula north should have settled weather during Saturday and Sunday."

Andy says people are advised to monitor the Watches and Warnings section of the metservice.com website at http://bit.ly/AllWarnings.

"On Monday the rain eases to showers over the North Island with the showers becoming few and far between over the South Island."