Recent spring-like weather won't last for long as a cold front sweeps north over the South Island from late Monday night before moving over the North Island on Wednesday.
As the front hits New Zealand, it will drive rain and northwest gales ahead of it, followed behind by inland snow and showers.
"There is moderate confidence that rainfall accumulations will reach warning amounts in Fiordland, southern Westland and the Otago Headwaters during Monday and early Tuesday, with a low risk about the remainder of Westland on Tuesday," MetService says.
"In addition, there is a moderate confidence of northwesterly winds rising to severe gale in exposed parts of Southland, Otago and Canterbury during Monday, and in Marlborough, Wellington and Wairarapa including the Tararua District from late Monday to Tuesday.
"Finally, on Tuesday, there is a low risk of heavy snow about inland Otago and south Canterbury above 600 metres."
Longer-term, New Zealand is expected to have a warmer-than-average spring this year after a warmer-than-average winter.
"Snowfall has been down from several locations across the South Island through the winter season," says NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll.
"And that's on the back of a winter season that looks to finish in the top three warmest on record."
And while next week may be colder, NIWA meteorologist Chris Brandolino says spring is also likely to be warmer than usual.
"When we look at September, October, November, what we call spring as a whole, we feel with high confidence it will be a warmer than average spring. A warmer than average spring doesn't mean there won't be cold days. A great marriage will have a bad stretch," he told The AM Show.
He said that could mean an earlier start to the agriculture season and more Kiwis may also be heading to the beach in November.
