Weather: Winter is coming - rain forecast throughout New Zealand this week

The weather may be balmy this morning but it's set to take a rainy twist. Photo / MetService Twitter

They say when it rains, it pours - and that's what it's set to do across New Zealand for much of this week.

The MetService predicts an incoming front will bring rain or showers to the South Island today - but a ridge will cling to the North Island, keeping the weather mostly settled there.

"The northerly wind between the high and front means warm temperatures, especially in eastern places," a MetService spokesperson said.

That mild autumnal weather will give way to grey skies, showers and wet.

On Monday, in the North Island rain or showers will develop through the day for most.

In the South Island there will be rain west of the divide. It will be cloudy with a few showers about Southland and Otago, spreading to inland Canterbury in the afternoon.

On Tuesday, there will be periods of rain in the North Island north of Taihape, possibly heavy about eastern Bay of Plenty.

Further south there will be cloud and isolated showers about Kapiti and Wellington and it will be partly cloudy elsewhere.

In the South Island it will be cloud with rain developing for most, though more isolated falls from Christchurch to Marlborough and Nelson.

Forecasters say periods of rain or showers are set to affect most of the country on Wednesday, possibly heavy about eastern Bay of Plenty.

Yesterday, the entire country was under the influence of a northerly flow.

The highest recorded maximum was 28C in Whanganui, while the coolest place was Invercargill, recording a high of just 18C.

A front brings rain or showers to the South Island tomorrow, while a ridge clings onto the North Island keeping the weather mostly settled there. The northerly wind between the high & front means warm temperatures, especially in eastern places https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^PL pic.twitter.com/f5hMmrWjpY

— MetService (@MetService) March 27, 2021