A series of spring storms are about to impact NZ and Australia bringing windy westerlies back into NZ and driving up rainfall totals through inland parts of Aussie.

The weather goes downhill in the days ahead with low pressure reaching NZ (and falling apart on the West Coast this Thursday) followed by a bigger low coming out of Australia for NZ this weekend, says WeatherWatch.co.nz

"This will be replaced by a third low pressure zone - the largest of them all - on Sunday and Monday.

"Over the next few days Australia has very high rainfall totals through the interior and out to the east while a cold change spreads across the country this week from the Southern Ocean. That colder change reaches NZ on Sunday - but not before days of well above normal temperatures here.

"In New Zealand the heaviest rain will be on the West Coast and Taranaki with up to 200mm possible from this Thursday to Sunday and more rain likely after that."

WeatherWatch.co.nz says windy weather will also push through with gales in coastal and mountainous areas of both nations later this week and potentially in the weekend.

"Next week the windy westerlies return for many places as typical spring weather continues on."