KEY POINTS:
The run of clear, frosty mornings experienced earlier this week have come to an end, with a rough band of weather expected over the weekend.
Outdoor activities are probably off the agenda as rain and strong winds move onto the country.
This afternoon rain clouds built up along western and northern parts of New Zealand with the latest weather forecasts from the Radio Network's Weather Watch Centre showing it's going to be a wet night and wet Saturday for many.
"Rain is starting to set in along the western coastline from West Coast to Northland. Some falls, especially in hilly regions facing north-west, will be heavy and will likely swell rivers" says the Centre.
Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says severe gales are also expected to batter a number of regions.
"We're warning motorists around Wellington and Wairarapa to take extreme care over the next 24 hours as winds rise to well over 100km/h an hour at times. The summit of the Rimutaka Ranges may well see gusts reaching 150km/h at times which is hurricane force".
Government forecaster MetService is warning of similar conditions with predictions of 140km/h on the hills around Marlborough, Wellington and Wairarapa.
There are a number of heavy rainfall warnings too. Duncan says rainfall is expected to "significantly" help the hydro lakes in the South Island.
"I've been saying for a couple of months now that winter would see a return to decent rainfalls across a number of dry regions across the country. Waikato is starting to look water logged and the hydro lakes are getting yet another burst of rain. I see no reason why similar rain bearing fronts won't continue to arrive over the South Island for the remainder of winter".
Duncan says so far winter is shaping up to be pretty normal, despite a few low snow falls.
The strong winds are also predicted to hike temperatures, especially in the north and east. "Dunedin, which was well below zero this morning, is currently on 18 degrees, it's 17 in Palmerston North and 16 in Whangarei. Over the weekend places like Hawkes Bay may well reach 20 degrees".
Settled weather is likely to return next week as a large high moves in from Australia. "Frosts will return although thanks to the warm nor'westers today and tomorrow last weekend's polar air will be blown out into the Pacific so frosts shouldn't be quite as severe or widespread".
- SOURCE: WEATHER WATCH CENTRE
