Rain is finally in the forecast again for many regions following a sudden return to dry weather over the past 4 weeks.

Several fronts attached to low air pressure south of New Zealand will bring rain, showers and colder weather over the next 48 to 72 hours.

The South Island will receive rain or showers during Tuesday with the fronts heading into the North Island Wednesday.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says conditions are going to be cold too.  “Each front will bring colder and colder air behind it…basically like stairs it will be cold, then level out, then colder still, then level out again.  This will happen at least 4 times over the next few days particularly in the South Island”.

Southland and coastal Otago will be most exposed to the wintry change with hail arriving Tuesday in Southland and falling across both regions Wednesday.   Invercargill and Dunedin will spend Wednesday mainly in single digits with a high of just 10 degrees likely.

The bitterly cold change will also arrive in Christchurch during Wednesday delivering showers, some hail and icy sou’westers, similar weather is expected on Thursday.  With the West Coast sheltered by the Southern Alps weather may well be sunnier, drier and warmer there.

Strong winds in Wellington are likely to rise to gale force during Tuesday.  On Monday night gales were already affecting the hills.

But relatively warm weather should stay around Auckland and the northern half of the North Island for at least 2 more days.  Rain or showers will affect places, especially in the west and south, on Wednesday and Thursday with colder winds arriving Thursday.

By Friday a high will be moving in from the Tasman Sea and should bring a sudden clearance to many areas with Easter Weekend looking sunny in many of the traditional holiday spots according to WeatherWatch.co.nz.