Warmer weather is on the way for the entire nation this weekend after a windy, cold, week for many of us.

Hawkes Bay and Gisborne will continue their warm run of weather but all other regions will see a slight lift in temperatures.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says most noticeable will be the easing of the wind chill.  Auckland dropped to just 6 degrees on Tuesday during the middle of the day after a cold change came through.  Southland has felt wind chills drop as low as -5 with -13 in some exposed higher altitude parts of Otago.

Temperatures this weekend should hit the low 20s in the east of the North Island and upper South Island while many other regions, including Auckland, will reach the late teens.

Southland will also feel a lift in temperatures with daytime highs possibly reaching 13 in Invercargill, a big jump from 4 and 5 last weekend.  Inland areas may reach the mid teens.

The warmer weather is due to a slight change in wind flow from south west to more north west.

Homepage image / Peter Shone