Showers are being forecast for the Bay of Plenty both today and tomorrow as a weather system moves over the country.

According to the MetService's five day forecast, today will be cloudy with a few showers and tomorrow will see scattered rain clearing late in the afternoon.

The MetService is forecasting showers for the Bay both today and tomorrow. Image: MetService.

'The ridge of high pressure moving over the country today means that there will be fine and settled weather for many. The exceptions to this will be brief showers moving up the east of the North Island with a southerly change,” says the weather organisation.

A weak trough is expected to bring cloud and a few showers to central North Island areas. On Tuesday, Tropical Cyclone Ula is expected to move southwards out of the tropics. It should sit approximately 500 – 600 km north of Cape Reinga by the end of Tuesday.

Currently a category 4 cyclone sitting between Vanuatu and Fiji, Tropical Cyclone Ula should weaken and transform into a low pressure system as it moves southwards. 'Due to its distance from the country, the worst of the wind and rain are expected to remain well north of us,” says MetService meteorologist Claire Flynn.

'However, tropical moisture associated with this system is likely to spread over northern New Zealand on Tuesday. This will bring rain to northern parts of the country, with a low chance that rain accumulations could reach warning criteria in Northland.” Beyond Tuesday, there is uncertainty regarding the path that Tropical Cyclone Ula might follow. 'At this stage, the most likely scenario is that Ula will move south-eastwards, remaining well offshore of New Zealand,” says Claire.

'Due to the uncertainty in the forecast track, MetService meteorologists will continue to monitor the movement of this system and, if necessary, Severe Weather Watches and Warnings will be issued in due course.”