Changeable autumnal conditions affect the country this week.

A trough brings wind and rain for the first half of the week, followed by fine but cool weather.

It looks like there will be a bit of everything in the forecast this week. Image: MetService.

Autumn typically means fast moving fronts and successive warmer and cooler spells.

This week is no exception as another band of moisture looks set to reach the lower South Island towards the end of the weekend, says MetService meteorologist Tom Adams.

Closer to home, showers turning to rain are expected through until Thursday before fine weather moves in on Thursday.

By Wednesday, the ridge starts spreading in from the west, bringing a marked drop in temperatures and a dusting of snow to the mountains.

Christchurch is looking at a balmy 23 degrees today, dropping to 10C overnight, warmed by the northwesterlies, says Tom.

By Wednesday the cooler southerlies drop the Wednesday overnight temperatures down to around 5 degrees in Christchurch, 10 degrees in Wellington and 11 degrees in Auckland.

'This week is a real mixed bag, while there will be plenty of fine weather between the fronts, it will pay dividends to check the forecast before heading out.

'The weather can change rapidly any time of year, but autumn is typically a very changeable season.”