The first weekend of 2016 brought rainy weather to many parts of the country.

The highest rainfall total over the weekend was 138 mm recorded at a station inland of Westport.

The MetService is forecasting fine weather until around Friday. Image: MetService.

'A ridge of high pressure is now moving onto the country, pushing away the weekends' rain,” says MetService meteorologist Claire Flynn.

'Most places should see some fine weather over the coming few days. However, a few showers are expected around Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, western Bay of Plenty, as well as the far south. The odd shower could also be seen about the Canterbury High Country.”

According to the MetService's five day forecast, today is going to be fine in the Bay of Plenty with a chance of evening showers.

Tomorrow is going to be fine with evening clouds and light winds.

The weekends' rain was caused by a moist northeasterly flow, bringing humid air from the tropics. This was then pushed away by a cool southerly change.

'Temperatures in many places around the country are currently below normal for January, due to the southerly flow,” says Claire.

'As the ridge builds over the country, temperatures should gradually return to normal during the week.”

The fine weather is not set to last with a low pressure system approaching the country from the Tasman Sea at the end of the week.

'This should bring rain or showers to most places by the weekend, though there will be lesser amounts in the east of both islands.”