Rain is being forecast to hit the country this week

A trough over the north of the North Island should move off to the east during Tuesday, says the MetService.

"This trough is expected to bring rain to the northern North Island and there is low confidence that a rainfall warning will be needed for Northland, parts of Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula on Tuesday," says a spokesperson for the weather organisation.

A front is expected to move onto the South Island during Wednesday and this is followed by a strong southwest flow.

"There is low confidence that warning amounts of rain will fall in Fiordland on Wednesday but this increases to moderate confidence that a rainfall warning will be needed there on Thursday.

"In Westland, there is low confidence that warning amounts of rain will fall on Thursday.

"Also on Thursday, there is low confidence that severe gale southwesterlies will affect Stewart Island, parts of the Southland and Otago coasts and Banks Peninsula."