NZ and eastern Australia share the same weather this week with more heavy rain for Sydney, which will drift over to the North Island and upper South Island too.

By Friday a new low in the Tasman Sea will cross NZ bringing a burst of severe weather (gales, rain then some snow).

Saturday looks wintry in parts of NZ (mostly the South Island) with snow possible to lower levels of northern Southland and maybe into Canterbury too (above 200 or 300m at this early stage).

One positive on Saturday – Sydney should have more dry spells in the mix.