For most of New Zealand you can kiss goodbye to the clear blue skies and calm weather – at least for the next three or four days as a very large low moves in to the upper part of the country.

The low – which spreads from Australia to New Zealand – will tap in to air from the sub-tropics bringing some heavy rain and gusty winds and later snow.

Auckland and other northern centres already have overcast conditions this morning with light showers and blustery easterlies.  WeatherWatch.co.nz says easterlies will be gale force in coastal areas today but shouldn’t cause too many issues on land – however advises motorists on the Auckland Harbour Bridge to drive with care.

Isolated thunderstorms are possible on Friday and Saturday as the mild, humid, nor’wester kicks in across northern areas following today’s front.

The front will bring the heaviest rain to northern areas from this afternoon and overnight, easing on Friday morning with the rain shifting further south and east. 

WeatherWatch.co.nz head weather analyst Philip Duncan says the large low has a challenge on its hands today.  “The reason for the strong winds isn’t so much because the low is deep, but because the high to the south is fairly strong. The low in the Tasman and the high in the south are fighting for dominance and that’s why we have a belt of strong to gale easterlies”. 

Mr Duncan says they will peak in the upper North Island today but should ease significantly overnight as the belt of winds heads south on Friday.

“Over the weekend the two systems will reach a truce with them both fairly smoothly moving together in partnership – and this will actually see that squash zone shift directions to create a very cold southerly”.

WeatherWatch.co.nz yesterday mentioned the snow risk for southern New Zealand as the wintry chill heads north.  Snow may again affect Dunedin and surrounding regions on Sunday with most of the nation under a wintry chill by Sunday or Monday – or both days.

What are conditions like where you are right now?  Post a comment below!