Plenty more bad weather heading our way

Umbrellas will be a must this weekend as showers, thunder storms, hail and some snow are expected across the country.

Today will bring mostly showers throughout the North Island. High winds are expected off the east coast and a number of storms and thunderstorms are likely across the northern and central parts of the island.

MetService forecaster Ian Miller said Aucklanders could expect showers today, with sunny breaks and winds of up to 40km/h.

A low of 7C is expected early this morning and rain will develop later tonight.

Mother's Day tomorrow will bring more showers - some heavy - for Aucklanders. Thunder storms and hail are also expected.

Daytime temperatures should reach highs of 15C in Auckland today and 16C tomorrow.

"There will be quite a wintry spell of weather," Mr Miller said. "And it's probably going to stay unchangeable for several days.

"The rain is going to come and go - people can expect that there's going to be some heavier showers."

Those in the south can expect a chilly 8C in Christchurch and a high of 12C tomorrow.

Similar temperatures are expected in the capital, with a high of 12C today.

A high of 7C is expected in Dunedin today and 8C tomorrow.

Mr Miller said a number of high passes in the South Island and parts of Canterbury could get some snow.

Snow is also likely on the Desert Road in the central North Island.

MetService warns those planning outdoor activities this weekend to keep a keen eye on weather updates and check them regularly.

Weatherwatch.co.nz analyst Philip Duncan said temperature highs of between 6C to 9C looked commonplace over Canterbury, Otago and Southland.

"It's hardly going to be an outdoors weekend," he said.

"It probably sounds more dramatic than it will be, but New Zealand is certainly about to have a wintry, stormy, weekend and week ahead."

The lightning detector at weatherwatch.co.nz had reached 10,000 lightning strikes between midnight on Thursday and 5pm yesterday.