Today's forecast is looking rather miserable with the MetService forecasting rain, thunder and gusty north westerlies for the region.

A severe weather watch remains in place for heavy rain and just when you thought we had seen the last of winter, a cold southerly change is expected to see temperatures drop.

A screenshot of the rain radar from the MetService.

Currently, the MetService says a trough is moving over the country.

This is preceded by warmer moist northerlies and followed by a cold southerly change, says meteorologist Rob Kerr.

'Looking ahead to the weekend, a spell of wet and windy weather is expected for the upper North Island.

'Severe Weather Warnings and Watches are currently in place for the Westland and Buller ranges until tonight, and the Tararua Range, Mt Taranaki, Tongariro National Park and Eastern Bay of Plenty ranges from this evening.”

The leading front crossing the upper North Island on Friday morning brings a high risk of thunderstorms with potential for downpours for Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula.

'A colder southerly change sweeps over the South Island tomorrow and across the North Island during Saturday, heralding a dramatic change from the balmy temperatures that eastern parts of the country have been enjoying for the last few days,” says Rob.

"The southerly change is expected to bring snow, which is not great news during lambing season. Snow lowers to about 300 metres overnight Friday for the southern and eastern regions of the South Island, affecting many inland areas.”

A low pressure system develops north-east of the North Island heading into Sunday, bringing a risk of heavy rain, strong winds and high seas, especially for eastern parts of the North Island.

'At this stage weather models are uncertain as to the exact position of this low, which means some uncertainty right now as to which regions will be impacted by significant weather,” warns Rob.