The Rugby World Cup officially kicks off tonight NZT and WeatherWatch.co.nz is still predicting light winds, dry conditions and near-perfect conditions for the fireworks display before the first match.

Tonight’s match is between the All Blacks and Tonga at Eden Park – the forecast and conditions can be found here.

Weather conditions this week have been mostly spectacular across the country.  Despite some heavy clouds and a few areas still a bit chilly conditions have been mostly settled thanks to a large high.

But that high is now leaving us – drifting away slowly to the east over the Pacific Ocean.

A new low pressure system will today and tomorrow rapidly intensify off the New South Wales coast – bringing rain and wind to much of New Zealand between Sunday and Tuesday at least.

We’ll have a more extensive weekend forecast later today.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz