Blue sunny skies are expected for the first half of this coming week as a ridge of high pressure is set to cover most of the country.

MetService said this should being settled weather to southern and central New Zealand, while easterlies and showers may affect the north.

On Wednesday August 6, the ridge is expected to move slowly east during the day.

“Northerlies will become established over the South Island, bringing rain to Fiordland,” MetService said. “The risk of severe weather is minimal.”

A trough with several lows is expected to approach the country from the west on Thursday.

“These bring strengthening northerly winds to many places and heavy rain to the west of the South Island.

“The heavy rain is not expected to require a warning, but there is low confidence that northwesterlies about inland areas from Mid-Canterbury to Marlborough will reach warning strength.”

On Friday the trough and low may move onto New Zealand during the day bringing unsettled conditions.

“This is followed by cold, strong southerly winds developing over the South Island,” MetService said.

“Initially, there is low confidence that the northwesterlies about inland areas from Mid-Canterbury to Marlborough will be strong enough to require a warning.

“Later in the day, it is possible that snow will affect the higher roads of the South Island, but it is unlikely that warning amounts of snow will fall over a widespread area.”