A sub-tropical low that WeatherWatch.co.nz first talked about on Thursday morning is deepening fairly quickly today and by the end of Sunday will be a sizeable low north of the country.

The minor squash zone between the high over most of New Zealand and the developing low north of the country has already brought in a gentle easterly breeze to Auckland and Northland.

That easterly breeze will kill off any chance of frosts tonight in Auckland and Northland.

Map / Monday evening, www.WeatherMap.co.nz

But the low isn’t expected to bring anymore than cloud and wind to northern New Zealand – instead it’s expected to slide down near East Cape clipping Gisborne and northern Hawkes Bay.

WeatherWatch.co.nz forecasters say conditions could be blustery, wet and cold around Tuesday as it passes by, but doesn’t expect conditions to be too severe at this stage. 

The close proximity of the large low means it’s one to watch.

It could help drive in dangerous waves and rips along the east coast from Northland to Hawkes Bay.

A change to strong westerlies next week will push the low east of New Zealand away from land.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the westerly change next week will likely bring more severe weather to New Zealand with the risk of severe gales in central and eastern areas and heavy rain in western areas.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz