Wet weather on way for much of NZ

There's a welcome reprieve in the weather this weekend but it's set to be short-lived as heavy rain linked to a former tropical cyclone is set to unleash a deluge across the country next week.

After a week of weather chaos including flash floods, thunderstorms and fog, the North Island is finally in store for a fine Saturday as daylight saving comes to an end.

But the MetService is warning it's not going to last, as skies pack up in the west on Sunday and patchy rain and drizzle return.

At the same time, rain in the far south of the South Island would move up the island bringing scattered falls east of the alps on Sunday.

MetService forecaster Peter Little said all eyes would be on a mass of tropical moisture associated with former Cyclone Debbie, which was expected to be drawn over northern and central New Zealand next week.

The already-sodden north which has weathered three major storms during the past few weeks was set for yet another drenching.

''Although Debbie is no longer a Tropical Cyclone, and is not expected to cross the Tasman, warm and moist tropical air will likely spread on to New Zealand ahead of a frontal system early next week,'' Mr Little said.

''This injection of extra moisture will increase the potential for heavy rain and localised downpours over parts of central and northern New Zealand, which are still sodden from recent heavy rain,'' he said.

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