Weather forecast: Changeable weather for mid-summer week

Kiwis will see fine spells over most of the country today. PHOTO/Doug Sherring

Despite being in mid-summer Kiwis are in for another unsettled week with rain, wind and muggy temperatures.

Todayshould see sunny spells for the North Island but multiple fronts will bring showers, wind and cloud throughout the week.

A heavy rain warning was issued for Fiordland today. MetService reported that between 9am and midnight 80 to 120mm of rain may accumulate. The heavy rain could continue into Tuesday with peak intensities of 15 to 20mm an hour.

A severe weather watch for heavy rain is in place for Franz Josef, Tararua District, Hawkes Bay, Coastal Southland and Stewart Islands. The watch lasts until midnight tonight.

MetService meteorologist Sarah Sparks said Monday was expected to be mostly fine. She thought Northland and Auckland would get a lovely afternoon of fine spells after a few morning showers clear today.

"And it's pretty much the same all down the west of the North Island including Waikato, Waitomo and Taranaki.

"[Today] is looking a bit sunnier for at least the North Island."

The east coast will arise to morning cloud which should disappear to make way for fine spells. Sparks predicted Sunday's high temperatures would continue.

But the South Island is going to cop heavy rain along the west coast.

Fronts will drift over the country on both Tuesday and Wednesday particularly focusing their energy around the west coast of the South Island. Fiordland and the surrounding areas will be the wettest in the country this week.

Tuesday would see cloudy periods in the west of the North Island but fine in the east, and the South Island would continue to get rain over its west coast.

On Wednesday, a front similar to this weekend's was expected , with more unsettled weather to follow.

Sparks predicted a low coming from the Tasman would bring unsettled weather with it on Thursday. It should move off the country on Friday before a "southwesterly pattern" kicks in. This will bring showers for most of the country Sparks said.

Yesterday temperatures soared to the early 30s in some parts of the country. Whangarei and Napier had a high of 31°C while Blenheim, Mahia, Cheviot and Wairoa reached 30°C.

Sparks said the coolest places where Arthur's Pass and Milford Sound with a high of 16°C and Hokitika that only reached 17°C.

Main centre forecasts

Whangarei
Mostly sunny with southwesterlies and a high of 25°C.

Auckland
Cloudy periods with a mostly sunny afternoon. Souhtwesterly winds and a high of 22°C.

Hamilton
Cloud periods but mostly sunny afternoon. Northerly winds and a high of 19°C.

Tauranga
Showers that will become more frequent in the afternoon. Souhtwesterly winds and a high of 23°C.

Wellington
Mostly sunny with high cloud from the evening. Northwesterly winds and a high of 20°C.

Christchurch
Fine with high cloud. Northerly winds and a high of 25°C.

Dunedin
High cloud and showers in the evening. Northwesterly winds and a high of 21°C.

Queenstown
Showers developing in the afternoon. Strong northwesterly winds and a high of 17°C.​