The MetService is forecasting a wet end to the week with rain expected tomorrow and Saturday in the Bay of Plenty.

Frontal bands moving northwards over the South Island today brought heavy rain to the West Coast, causing disruption to traffic on State Highway 6 with some flooding and land slips.

Further periods of rain are expected over central New Zealand today as these frontal bands lie slow moving across the region. 'Frontal bands ahead of this low will bring more rain, some of which will be significant for central parts of the country,” says MetService meteorologist Derek Holland.

As the low pressure rolls across the country on Saturday, further bursts of rain can be expected across the North Island, with heavy falls over the Bay of Plenty's eastern areas. Rain is expected to develop and spread throughout the Canterbury region on Friday, on their Anniversary Day.

This will slowly ease to showers during Saturday afternoon.

'Sunday is looking the best day of the long weekend in Canterbury, with some sunny breaks developing,” says Derek.

'Over the remainder of the country on Sunday, a few showers are expected in eastern areas, with fine spells elsewhere.” Changeable spring weather reasserts itself next week, with another low pressure system approaching New Zealand from the west.

'Rain can be expected over most areas by Monday evening, with heavy falls and possible thunderstorms in the west.”