High pressure will briefly bring some settled weather to the country for Wednesday and Thursday but the next cold front arrives Friday in the South Island and goes nationwide on Saturday – with polar air covering the entire nation.

Surges of windy weather and temperature changes are on the way over the coming week – with snow on the mountains and ranges, especially in the South Island and plenty of westerly driven rain (driest in the east).

There’s also a low developing in the subtropics one week from now – the current modelling keeps it offshore, but it’s large and close enough to monitor.

We have your detailed New Zealand forecast through to Tuesday next week.