The rain and grey skies that have shrouded the country like a Halloween bed sheet are set to clear on Friday, setting the scene for a sunny weekend.

The tail end of October has seen welcome rain fall in several parts, with Christchurch picking up more rain on Wednesday than in all of the previous days of the month put together.

Today's rain is set to clear before the weekend. Image: MetService.

A series of fronts that are bringing heavy falls to Northland, Coromandel and the Tararua Range today will move off to the east on Friday as a ridge moves over the country.

Cooler southerly winds will bring a frosty Friday night to parts of the central South Island. Most areas will see sunshine for the majority of the weekend, with just a few scattered showers around, says MetService meteorologist Tom Adams.

'There is only an outside chance of a shower sneaking over the Auckland marathon, with easing southwest breezes and long fine spells for the northern city this weekend.

'Saturday night looks like a great night for trick or treaters, but wrap up warm as overnight the temperature will drop into the single figures just about everywhere.”

Next week northwesterlies pick up ahead of a significant trough, which looks set to bring rain to much of the South Island on Tuesday and the North Island on Wednesday, followed by a chilly southerly change.

The good news though is an improving trend for later in the week, says Tom.