Rain, wind in store - but won't be as chilly

A front will begin to move across the country later today, bringing with it showers, strong winds and thunderstorms. Photo / Dean Purcell

Heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms are in store as a front approaches the country this afternoon.

However, temperatures are unlikely to be as chilly as they have been over the last few days.

MetService meteorologist Rebekah LaBar said there were currently northeast winds about the country, which were causing temperatures to slightly climb in some places.

"It's not necessarily going to be feeling warm but it's not quite as cold as it has been the last couple of days."

Most of the country experienced low overnight temperatures and frosty mornings this week, but for the rest of the week these overnight temperatures would not be quite as cold, Ms LaBar said.

"We are not looking at as quite a good chance for frost -- we are going to be seeing more cloud cover this week. Usually for those frosty nights you need clear skies for the temperatures to be dropping and for those frosts to be forming."

A front will begin to move across the country later today, bringing with it showers, strong winds and thunderstorms.

"The next system we have is coming on to the country and is going to start affecting places along the west coast, particularly the South Island, later today and into tomorrow."

A weather warning is in place for heavy rain in Westland and the northwest Nelson ranges, while a watch is in place for possible heavy rain for the rest of the Nelson ranges, down through Westland to Fiordland, as well as east towards the headwaters of Canterbury and Otago lakes and rivers.

"There is still going to be some rain for those areas tomorrow, but then the focus for some of the heavier rain is going to shift on to the North Island."

A weather watch was in place for heavy rain along the Coromandel Peninsula and in the western Bay of Plenty tomorrow.

Ms LaBar said ahead of the front, northerly winds would strengthen. There are weather watches in place for northerly gales, possibly becoming severe, in coastal parts of Buller and northern Westland from early tomorrow morning.

Northland and Auckland would get some rain - although it would not be as heavy as the rain in areas with watches and warnings in place.

"There is a low chance of some thunderstorms in the Northland and Auckland area. The main threat is going to be tomorrow afternoon and evening ... for offshore and eastern parts of those areas."

There was also a moderate chance of thunderstorms in the west coast of the South Island tomorrow.

By tomorrow evening, heavy rain would spread further north before eventually clearing on Thursday.

"There will still be a lot of places that are going to be seeing somewhat showery weather as the northerlies are replaced by more westerly and southerly flow that will keep the temperatures somewhat mild.

"Then they will drop down towards the end of the week."

Ms LaBar said as the end of the week approached, there may be more frost in store.

"There is also the possibility of some snow for the South Island. It won't be a widespread event but there are some signals in the model that we could be seeing a bit of a snow event for some places to relatively low levels."

Tomorrow's forecast:

Whangarei: Rain, chance heavy thunder, easing late. Fresh northeast. High 17C, low 12C

Auckland: Occasional rain, persistent in the afternoon, heavy at times. Strong northeasterlies. High 15C, low 10C

Hamilton: Rain at times, persistent and heavier in the afternoon. Fresh northeast. High 14C, low 8C

Tauranga: Showers turn to rain, heavy at times. Strong northeast. High 15C, low 11C

Wellington: Occasional rain develops in the morning. Northerly strengthens. High 14C, low 10C

Christchurch: Few spots morning rain, then fine. Fresh northeast eases. High 12C, low 3C

(Source: MetService)