A “wild week of weather” is giving way to a mostly dry and settled weekend for most, with temperatures nudging 30C in some spots, MetService meteorologist John Law says.

Thunderstorms and downpours swept across parts of the North Island this week, with lightning sparking house fires and floodwaters stranding some motorists and disrupting public transport.

But a late spring switcheroo sees high pressure building this weekend, Law told Ryan Bridge Today.

“For most of us it’s actually looking … fairly dry and settled … a well deserved quieter weekend in store, I think.”

Cantabrians enjoying their region’s Anniversary Day in Christchurch today could expect a “great looking day” once the early morning cloud cleared, with settled weather continuing through the weekend, Law said.

Cricket fans are also in luck, with sunshine and a high of 23C on the way in Tauranga for the Black Caps One Day International against India at Bay Oval from 3pm.

However, a second one-dayer between the two sides in the city from 3pm Sunday could be affected by a few showers developing in the afternoon.

A high of 22C is forecast in Tauranga on Sunday, matched in Auckland and with 23C on the way for Christchurch and 24C for Hamilton and Dunedin. It’ll be 17C in Wellington.

Other cities’ highs would be dwarfed by what’s expected for the North Island’s east on Sunday, likely the weekend’s hottest day, Law said.

“Temperatures [will be] widely up into the 20s across the country, but out east, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few spots making it to around 30C.

“Places like Hastings, Napier, knocking on that door of 30C, not just on Sunday, but perhaps into Monday as well.

A warm Sunday is on the way for much of the country. Image / MetService

“Those northwesterlies are doing their thing and giving us some pretty warm temperatures as we head through the weekend.”