Cloudy periods and a few showers is what the MetService is forecasting for the Bay of Plenty this week.

According to the weather organisation's five day forecast, fine spells with the occasional shower will continue through to Wednesday.

Showers and cloudy periods are forecast to kick off the start of the working week. Image: MetService.

On Thursday, however, those showers are expected to turn to rain as we head into the weekend.

'The fine weather is expected to be replaced by periods of rain and northerly winds as a low pressure system in the south Tasman Sea spreads a series of fronts across the country mid-week,” says a statement from the MetService.

'On Monday the ridge begins to weaken as a front approaches the Far South, becoming stationary there and spreading rain across Fiordland, Southland and up to Buller on the West Coast.

'Behind this front, a low pressure system approaches across the southern Tasman Sea and begins to spread rain to the West Coast during Tuesday.”

Into Wednesday, a front associated with the southern low moves up the South Island, bringing heavy rain and possibly severe northerly gales to the inland West Coast, and periods of rain to central and northern areas of the North Island.

Elsewhere, most areas should remain dry, apart from the east of the South Island which will see scattered rain from the afternoon.

During Wednesday night the front becomes stationary over central New Zealand, spreading the heavy rain to a number of western areas of both islands, and bringing periods of rain further east, while Wellington and southern Wairarapa may see severe northerly gales.

On Friday, the front begins to move east across the North Island, with rain clearing behind it. The rain on the West Coast is expected to ease through the course of the day.

Tropical Cyclones Winston and Tatiana are expected to stay well north of the country during this period and won't have any direct impact on the country's weather.