WeatherWatch have advised that a front pushing over New Zealand and out to the east this morning is leaving a westerly quarter airflow in its wake.

'We do see a southwest change move up the eastern South Island this morning however,” says a WeatherWatch spokesperson.

The MetService advise that northerly gales and heavy rain forecast for parts of central and southern New Zealand have now eased and the Heavy Rain Watches and Strong Wind Watches issued by the MetService are no longer in force and have been lifted.

For Northland, Auckland, Waikato and the Bay Of Plenty, there may be a remaining shower or two at times during the day for western coastal areas, says a WeatherWatch spokesperson.

'Otherwise mainly dry with a mix of sun and cloud. Winds change southwest during the morning.”

The four regions should have highs today of 20 to 22 degrees.

Other WeatherWatch regional forecasts for Saturday:

Western North Island (including Central North Island)
Showers and dry spells, some sun breaking through at times from afternoon. It should be mainly dry by evening. Northerlies change to the west around midday.
Highs: 14-19

Eastern North Island
Becoming mostly sunny with northerlies changing to the west around midday.
Highs: 19-22

Wellington
Sunny spells with strong northwesterlies easing and changing light southerly late afternoon.
Highs: 17-18

Marlborough & Nelson
Mostly sunny, cloud moves back in during the evening. Westerly quarter winds tend southeast in the afternoon for Marlborough then evening for Nelson.
Highs: 17-19

Canterbury
A southwest change pushes through in the morning bringing cloud and the risk of a few showers, especially Banks Peninsula southwards then drying out into the afternoon with a chance of some sun before dusk. Southwest winds die out in the evening.
Highs: 14-16

West Coast
Showers and increasing dry spells, west to southwesterly winds. Overnight rain moves back into South Westland.
Highs: 13-16

Southland & Otago
Morning rain/showers clear then sunny spells break through. West to southwesterly winds, breezy about coastal areas, lighter winds inland.
Highs: 11-14