Just when you thought we had seen the last of winter, a cold southerly flow is set to grip the North Island once again.

The MetService says the warm and blustery north-west flow over much of New Zealand will bring heavy rain to northern and western provinces today before a colder south to south-west flow moves in.

A wet and cold weekend is on the cards. Photo: File.

'Bouts of heavy rain in the north and west, and severe gales in the east, will be replaced by squally showers and cold southerlies,” says MetService meteorologist Tom Adams.

There are currently a number of warnings and watches in place for severe weather.

'We already have warnings in force for snow about the South Island's higher roads,” adds Tom, 'but as the cold starts to gain ground, snow is forecast to lower levels for much of South Island this weekend.

'There is still uncertainty around how low the snow will fall this weekend, and exactly how much will accumulate.”

The snow will make for some chilly conditions, with temperatures of around 12C being forecast through the day and 4C overnight.