The weekend is shaping up to be a repeating pattern of bands of cloud and patchy rain followed by a return to high pressure and settled weather.

The MetService is forecasting morning drizzle for the Bay of Plenty tomorrow, followed by fine spells and light winds.

Patchy rain, cloud and sun is forecast for the Bay of Plenty.

Sunday's forecast is for the chance of rain, cloudy periods and southwesterly winds.

Meteorologist John Law says it will be a drier weekend for most of the North Island with a ridge of high pressure building back across the island.

During Sunday a southerly change moves northwards across the country spreading cloud and patchy rain onto the lower North Island.

'Weather systems are set to dumbbell around each other this weekend,” says John.

'This means we should all get to enjoy some sunnier spells as well as some showers.”

The start of December was noticeable for some especially low temperatures with parts of the South Island recording temperatures back down below freezing.

'Temperatures look to be heading back towards normal for the time of year,” adds John.

'And with the return of northwesterly winds on Saturday, spots on the east coast of the South Island are likely to see top temperatures in the 20s once again.”