A high covering the North Island is expected to bring fine weather for Bay of Plenty residents during the weekend.

The MetService says the high should cover the North Island on Saturday, while a front is expected to move east over the southern South Island.

The front should lie over the north of the South Island late on Sunday and cross the North Island during Monday.

Another, weaker front should pass over the south of the South Island on Monday.

The northerly flow ahead of the first front should reach gale force in some locations, but it is unlikely that any land-based warnings will be required, reports the MetService.

The fronts are expected to bring periods of rain to western and northern places of both islands.

As the front moves over the North Island on Monday it is unlikely that rainfall warnings will be required for Waitomo, Waikato, Northland, the Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty.

The MetService reports a high over the north Tasman Sea should be approaching the country on Tuesday.