The outlook for the weekend and beyond has a distinct spring-like feel, with the country sitting in a prevailing westerly flow as a number of fronts sweep through.

The first of these fronts moves across the country on Friday, preceded by strong, moist north-westerlies.

Showers are predicted for the region this weekend. Photo: File.

A burst of heavy and thundery rain is likely in the west of the South Island, while the Tararua Range, Mt Taranaki and the ranges of the central North Island could also receive some heavy falls.

Meanwhile, blustery north-west winds are expected in parts of Wellington, Wairarapa, Marlborough and inland Canterbury.

It will be a wet Friday for many – including the Bay of Plenty – and a few showers are expected in eastern areas with thunderstorms possible in Canterbury during the afternoon.

This front then stalls over the North Island on Saturday, while another weaker front moves onto the South Island.

'At this stage, there is some disagreement between the computer models over the position and intensity of the respective rainbands,” says MetService meteorologist Ciaran Doolin.

'However, it is likely that many people in the west and north of both islands will experience wet weather heading into the weekend.”

The weather begins to improve over the North Island on Sunday and into Monday, as the front moves off to the east.