Rain and gale force winds expected for much of the country

Rain and gale force winds are expected across the country from tomorrow. Photo / Thinkstock

Severe weather is bringing rain and gale force winds across the country from Thursday, MetService says.

A trough from the south will sweep up the country over the next four days, hitting the west coast of the South Island first.

Rain warnings are likely for Fiordland, Westland and the Otago and Canterbury headwaters on Thursday through to Friday, before the trough heads north, MetService said.

As the week ends, Mt Taranaki, Waitomo and the central North Island high country, along with the ranges of eastern Bay of Plenty, were likely to receive heavy rainfall, MetService predicted.

By Saturday, the trough will have moved further north but confidence for heavy rain was lower for areas such as Taupo, Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

In addition, strong to gale northwesterlies ahead of the trough may rise to severe gale at times.

On Friday there was moderate confidence of severe northwest gales in eastern areas from Hawkes Bay to Canterbury, including Wellington, MetService predicted.

The cold spell hitting the country at the moment was likely to bring snow to central Otago and high parts of Southland, MetService said.