Wet and windy weather is expected this week as a high pressure system heads eastward, taking the warmer weather with it.
Two influential new weather systems will dump rain in northern and western parts of the country today, MetService forecasted.
The North Island can expect a drenching today but it should ease by the evening.
One front was forecast to bring "a burst of heavy northerly rain to Fiordland and southern Westland".
MetService has issued a severe weather watch for heavy rain in southern Westland, Fiordland and the eastern Bay of Plenty.
Forecasters expect turbulent northwesterlies to dominate central New Zealand through to Wednesday.
"Western areas are likely to be peppered by showers, while the east should remain mostly dry with temperatures reaching the late teens in some spots," MetService said.
By mid-week, some snow was possible for alpine passes.
MetService said the latter part of the working week would be unsettled for many parts of the country.
A big high brought settled conditions to much of the nation late last week.
But an active front streaked east across the country yesterday, bringing northerly gales and heavy rain to some parts of the South Island, MetService said.
Gusts of 100km/h hit parts of inland Canterbury yesterday, and some parts of Westland received 65mm of rain in just 12 hours.
Meanwhile, WeatherWatch said 41 per cent of its website readers felt winter had been "average," a third had found it "awful" and 26 per cent rated it as "excellent".
Today's forecast
Auckland: Low 11C High 16C. Rain clearing in afternoon, showers at night. Fresh northerly.
Hamilton: Low 9C High 16C. Rain easing to showers in the evening. Fresh northerly.
Tauranga: Low 11C High 16C. Rain, heavy falls possible. Strong northerly.
Napier: Low 9C High 18C. Cloudy, afternoon rain. Fresh northerlies.
Wellington: Low 10C High 15C. Showers then rain. Northerly strengthens.
(Source: MetService.com)