This week kicks off with the leftovers of that large Tasman Sea low from Saturday bringing areas of rain and may be a few thunderstorms to the North Island today and a few other isolated downpours/thunderstorms inland elsewhere.

By Tuesday a change is arriving – the westerlies are returning ahead of a nationwide cold front coming for Wednesday and Thursday (some places will see daytime highs drop by over 12 degrees).

But high pressure is returning with a large high moving in on Friday and bringing a mostly settled weekend to most (but not all) regions.