High pressure from the long weekend is now departing and behind it a windier and milder north to north west flow will kick in across this week.

A large low pressure zone around Tasmania will slowly stretch and drift towards NZ bringing 125 to 150mm (or more) to the West Coast with lighter, patchier, rain heading up the North Island’s western and northern sides this weekend.

For the east it means drier and milder with highs in the low to mid 20s by Friday or Saturday.

Australia’s big rain events take a breather with longer dry spells and less heavy rain – but more low pressure is drifting back to the south eastern corner next week with more rain and thunderstorms.