Cold, showery southerlies are the theme for this weekend following a front which brought heavy rain and strong northerly winds to most of the upper North Island.

However, the MetService is forecasting little, if any, snow to accumulate on the Desert road.

Snow is expected to accumulate on the Desert Road. Photo: File.

Respite from the showers will come early next week as a ridge moves over from the west, but this will be short lived.

But most of New Zealand is set to be affected by adverse weather this weekend.

The showery south-westerlies also bring a risk of squally thunderstorms and hail to western parts of both islands.

'We're in for a changeable few days,” says MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr.

'Further severe weather warnings or watches are likely to be issued as this situation evolves into the weekend.” Looking offshore, the south-westerlies set to move over the country have a long fetch stretching deep into the Southern Ocean.

This will push heavy swells of 4m along western parts of both Islands, with 3m swells persisting north of Taranaki long after the winds drop away on Sunday, which is great news for surfers. This weekend, The Warriors are set to kick off in Wellington at 5pm on Saturday and the capital can expect chilly southerlies and possible showers for the game.

Later on Saturday, the Australians won't have the weather to blame after playing the All Blacks, with fine and settled conditions expected in Sydney.