A severe weather watch is in place for the Bay of Plenty as the MetService forecasts another bout of rain, with no reprieve in sight until next Tuesday.

Showers are predicted to spread across the region on Friday and Saturday as a rapidly deepening, complex low sweeps across the country.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday look set to be cold and wet.

The MetService says the low will bring a significant cold outbreak across much of the country on Saturday and Sunday.

Wintery showers are likely for many, with snow to low levels predicted for the far south.

The MetService says the watch is in place for the possibility of rainfall amounts reaching warning criteria, for example, more than 100mm falling within 24 hours.

'This could be the first snow on Election Day for some in at least 30 years,” says meteorologist Rob Kerr.

'A similar weather pattern brought snow to areas south of Christchurch during the weekend of the July 1984 vote.”

Across the North Island, Saturday's weather will be showery for most, with the East Coast and Wellington likely to see more dry weather.

Strong or gale force winds will affect many during the day. 'Temperatures are expected to drop with the southerly, so it might pay to dig out those winter blankets and jerseys again.”

Temperatures will sit around the 15 degree mark for daily highs and six degrees for the overnight lows in the Bay of Plenty.

Rain is forecast to continue through Sunday and Monday, with the first sunny day predicted to be Tuesday.