Fine day to end Waitangi weekend

Enjoy the last day of the final long weekend of summer - it's going to be a good one for most, including Otago and Queenstown Lakes holiday hotspots.

MetService duty forecaster Rochelle Fleming said settled weather around the country this Waitangi Weekend would continue today.

"More of the same, so that means it's going to be a pretty good day for us."

A ridge of high pressure is over the country, bringing a fine day for most today.

Holiday destinations Wanaka and Queenstown are set to sizzle, with a fine, sunny day forecast and highs of 30 degrees Celsius and 27C, respectively, while 28C is predicted for Alexandra.

Dunedin, Oamaru and Invercargill would be a bit cloudy, but could expect to reach 20C, and Christchurch 22C.

Rain was forecast for Dunedin and Invercargill tomorrow, but the golden weather was set to continue in Queenstown, Wanaka and Alexandra until Thursday when umbrellas would be needed. Christchurch would remain cloudy but warm.  

In Hamilton, where the Black Caps will this afternoon and evening battle Australia in the Chappell-Hadlee series' decider, cricket lovers could expect to see a full game, Mrs Fleming said.

The easterly flow over the northern half of the North Island may bring showers when it meets sea breezes in the west, so there was a risk of showers in western Waikato, but Seddon Park was unlikely to be affected, she said.

Auckland's warm and humid summer continues, with morning cloud clearing through the day and a high of 26C. 

Wellington could also expect a stunner, with little wind, but sunshine and a high in the mid-20s.

The MetService was also keeping an eye on a low expected to deepen between Vanuatu and Fiji tomorrow and Wednesday, with a moderate to high potential of developing into a tropical cyclone by the end of Thursday.

Another low south of the Solomon Islands may also deepen this week and has a moderate potential of developing into a tropical cyclone by the same time.

There was still a lot of uncertainty about what would happen and whether New Zealand would be affected, Mrs Fleming said.

- ODT and NZ Herald

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