A cold front is sweeping up New Zealand brought severe gales to much of the South Island and lower North Island.

However, those winds were expected to ease off on Friday as an area of high pressure built over the country for a settled weekend.

Some showers are being forecast for Monday. Image: MetService.

MetService meteorologist Emma Blades says the strong northwesterlies will bring some warm Foehn winds to eastern areas, with temperatures possibly getting up into the thirties there.

As the cold front travels north we will feel a marked changed in temperature as the flow turns southerly.

'The weekend will be more settled, as a ridge of high pressure moves over New Zealand, returning us to normal autumnal temperatures.

'This means plenty of sunshine up in Auckland for those enjoying the Pasifika Festival. The weather's not looking too bad for the Taranaki Anniversary weekend either, but the locals can expect a bit of cloud, and possibly a few showers on Sunday and Monday.”