Rough weather is on the way this week as a big high to the east of New Zealand slows down a low and frontal system over the South Island bringing heavy rain and gales.

Heavy rain on Thursday and Friday will affect the West Coast but could also spill over to the headwaters of Canterbury and Otago rivers.

Severe gales are also in the forecast for places like western and northern Southland, and western parts of Otago.  Towns possibly affected by the severe gales could be Queenstown, Gore and Invercargill.  Gales may also spread as far east as Dunedin.

MetService is monitoring the forecast rough weather in their severe weather outlook.

WeatherWatch.co.nz is also predicting a possible low in the northern Tasman Sea, with connections to the subtropics, affecting northern and western parts of New Zealand early next week.  Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says farms and gardens are starting to dry out right across the country and some heavy rain would be welcome.  “We went from a wet February to a dry March.  April is proving to be mild and very dry for most New Zealanders – a subtropical low bringing warmth and solid rain is just what farmers are needing”.

Mr Duncan says computer models are agreeing that a low is likely to form but so far are not consistent with its projected path.  “It’s too early to say who’ll benefit the most from this low but western and northern areas are most exposed early next week”.

WeatherWatch.co.nz will closely monitor this low over the next few days – check back for our updates.