This week kicks off warmer than average with rain setting in to the West Coast and windy westerlies also setting in. By Friday those winds turn cold with snow falling to just a few hundred metres in the South Island and a significant nationwide temperature drop by the start of the long weekend.

Saturday looks windy across the country with a cold southerly bringing rain and snow to both islands.

Despite the dramatic forecast the week ahead has some pleasant weather too. Eastern and northern NZ will be driest with temperatures in the late teens or even early 20s before the cold change arrives on Friday and Saturday.