With Easter just days away, plenty of Bay of Plenty whānau are doing the same thing: refreshing the MetService forecast while mentally planning for the long weekend.

The good news? While the weather has a few mixed moods in store, there should be enough dry moments to make the most of the long weekend.

After a run of crisp, frosty mornings earlier in the week, MetService meteorologist John Law said the sting will ease as Easter approaches.

“Weatherwise, it’s a bit of a mix this Easter weekend but we should all find a day or two with some clear sky and dry weather to head out and about.

“After the frosty conditions we saw in parts of the country, the good news is the nights won’t be quite as cold heading into the weekend.”

The nights are set to be milder, and although sunshine won’t be guaranteed every day, most regions – including Bay of Plenty – should see at least a window or two of decent outdoor weather.

For locals from Waihī Beach through Tauranga and across to Whakatāne, Good Friday looks like a promising start.

A weather overview map for Friday. Image / MetService

While an odd coastal shower could pop up further north, most of the region can expect a fine day – perfect for a morning walk along The Strand or an early start on the road before holiday traffic builds.

Saturday is when the forecast asks Bay of Plenty residents to stay a little flexible. Cloud is expected to increase across the region, bringing a chance of brief showers, particularly through the afternoon.

It’s a good day for market visits, cafe catch-ups or a sheltered coastal stroll – keeping a jacket handy just in case.

Easter Sunday continues the theme of changeable skies, with cloud around at times and a scattering of showers across the North Island.

For Bay of Plenty, this looks more like passing drizzle than a washout, meaning Easter egg hunts may just need to dodge a shower or two rather than be cancelled altogether.

By Monday, the region feels the contrast. Westerly conditions favour sunnier weather further inland and on western coasts, while Bay of Plenty’s eastern-facing shores are more likely to sit under cloud, with the chance of showers lingering.