The MetService report that a front is forecast to move north across the North Island on Tuesday, bringing a period of heavy rain and strong west to northwesterly winds.

Snow is also likely to affect the Desert Road on Thursday.

'There is low confidence of rainfall accumulations reaching warning amounts about the Tararua Range, from Mount Taranaki to Tongariro National Park, and the ranges of eastern Bay of Plenty during Tuesday,” says a MetService spokesperson.

'In addition, there is low confidence of northwest winds becoming severe in exposed parts of the upper North Island from Hawkes Bay to Waitomo northwards on Tuesday.

From Wednesday to Friday, strong disturbed and cold west to southwest winds are expected to cover much of the country. There is low confidence of west to southwest winds becoming severe in exposed places of coastal Otago and Banks Peninsula on Wednesday, and about Buller, western Nelson and the North Island from Taranaki and Hawkes Bay northwards during Wednesday and Thursda y.

In addition, snow is likely to affect some higher roads and passes over the South Island from Wednesday, and the Desert Road on Thursday, with snow possibly lowering to 300 metres in the south of the South Island. However, warning amounts of snow are not expected at this stage.