Severe weather watch as stormy weather moves across the country

Severe weather watch as stormy weather moves across the country
Photo credit: Newshub.

New Zealand is in for some wild weather with rain, wind, and even snow to batter the western regions.

Heavy rain along with strong winds and thunderstorms will move across the south island on Monday evening before battering the lower north island on Tuesday morning.

Severe weather warnings are in place for the northwest corner of the south island and for the lower half of the north island.

Metservice has issued a strong wind watch for Auckland.  

Northern Taranaki and Nelson have both been issued with heavy rain warnings from late Monday evening until Tuesday morning. 

Buller, the Tararua Ranges and Westland are all under heavy rain watches.

Taranaki, Taihape, Whanganui Wellington and the Wairarapa are also warned to be ready for strong winds which could reach gale force on Tuesday morning.

Snow will fall in the Southern Alps and flurries are expected in Queenstown.

"With heavy snow higher up over the past week and this coming week it increases the avalanche risks in the Southern Alps," said WeatherWatch.co.nz head forecaster Philip Duncan.

Luckily the front won't last too long. The worst of it should move off the country by Tuesday evening.

"The bad news is a number of fronts are lining up in Tasman Sea to take its place. This unsettled weather pattern is typical for winter," said Metservice meteorologist April Clark.

Newshub.