The Bay of Plenty region is in for a chilly start to the week with a snow warning in place for the Desert Road and parts of the central North Island.

The MetService says showers forecast for today are expected to turn to snow tonight, with around 2 to 4cm accumulating between 9pm and midnight.

The Desert Road coated in snow. Photo: File.

Media and communications meteorologist Dan Corbett says snow will also drop to low levels across the southern parts of the South Island as cold air spreads behind a low weather system.

There are also wind warnings in place for the lower North Island and some South Island regions as the low passes over the country this week.