Winter's weird weather looks set to continue with snow, gales, heavy rain and unseasonably warm temperatures all around the nation.
After a bitterly cold weekend for most of the country, MetService says this week winter will flip the switch and show its wetter, warmer side.
A rain front moves up the South Island on Monday, bringing both strong northwesterlies and rain as well as temperate air.
"Overnight minimums across the country will be warmer than average, while eastern South Island regions will see temperatures climb to the high teens during Tuesday and Wednesday," MetService says.
"Places from Blenheim through to Oamaru are expected to get daytime temperatures around 7C or 8C above average for this time of year, reaching 19C in Christchurch on Tuesday and Wednesday and 20C in Kaikoura.
But then another front arrives on Wednesday, spreading rain with a stark southerly change across the country on Thursday.
"Snow is likely for alpine areas, but especially for the northern Canterbury High Country and about the Kaikōura Ranges," MetService says.
"Two broad ridges of high pressure over the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea create a low-pressure sandwich around Aotearoa on Friday, which means rainy weather will continue into the weekend.
"There is still uncertainty about where the most rain will fall, but the driest regions are top contenders for being the soggiest this weekend."
