Rain and "very cold southwesterlies" are in store heading into the weekend for many parts of the country as a large active trough moves eastwards over New Zealand.
MetService said cold southwesterlies are expected to affect the lower South Island later Friday, with snow possible on the hills and ranges.
"There is low confidence of warning amounts of rain in Grey and Buller, the Tararua Range, Taranaki Maunga and the central North Island high-country," the meteorology service said in its severe weather outlook.
"Very cold southwesterlies" were expected to spread over the country on Saturday as the trough moved to the east, with snow over the hills and ranges of the South Island in the morning, MetService said.
A low was then forecast to approach central and northern New Zealand from the west late in the day.
MetService said there was low confidence that warning amounts of rain would continue about the central North Island high country and Taranaki Maunga in the morning. For Northland and Auckland, there was low confidence that southwesterlies would reach severe gales.
On Sunday, a low and associated front should move eastwards across the North Island during the day, MetService said, while a ridge of high pressure builds over the South Island.
"There is minimal risk of severe weather."
A weak front embedded in a southwest flow should move northwards across southern and central New Zealand on Monday.
Extended Forecast
Friday
For the North Island, rain developing in the north and west, with heavy falls and possible thunderstorms. Scattered rain spreading elsewhere later. In the South Island, periods of rain in the west, heavy and possibly thundery at times. Scattered rain elsewhere.
Saturday
For all of New Zealand, there will be showers, some heavy, gradually easing. Snow possibly lowering to 200m for a time about Fiordland, Southland, and Otago.
Sunday
Showers for the North Island, some heavy in the west, clearing later. Mainly fine for the South Island, but partly cloudy with isolated showers in the south.
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