Rain and strong winds forecast for the region

The last blast of winter may have gone through late last week but Whanganui folk are in for some more wild and woolly stuff over the next few days.

MetService says a complex low pressure system is expected to come in from the Tasman Sea today and move over the country tomorrow and Saturday.

Forecasters are predicting rainfall could approach warning criteria across the top of the South Island and central and lower North Island during Friday and Saturday.

And they say there's a moderate risk that northwest gales could approach severe gale strength in exposed places about the lower North Island, Taranaki, Taihape and Napier southwards during Friday and Saturday.