Families heading home from the school holidays are warned to expect delays as the weekend brings rain, thunder, gales and even snow to much of the country.

MetService has issued a severe weather warning for snow in Marlborough and the central North Island.

Eight to 10cm was expected to fall on the Desert Rd overnight – enough to disrupt traffic.

Today should see 10cm to 15cm fall above 700m in the central North Island and the Hawkes Bay ranges.

This week’s wet weather will continue in Auckland, but should begin to settle by this evening.

Severe wind alerts were issued yesterday for Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Horowhenua and Wellington.

Weather Watch analyst Phillip Duncan said the upper North Island could expect a wet weekend.

Today should be warm and wet with a chance of thunderstorms but by tomorrow the weather would be fine, although cool.

He advised families driving home to take extra care on the roads, think of a backup route and look at the forecasts.