A return to more typical June conditions is set to bring rain and cooler temperatures to the Bay of Plenty this week, before another warmer spell arrives by the weekend.

In its latest weather update, MetService said a cooler southerly change sweeping up the country would push rain across the North Island early this week, bringing temperatures back in line with seasonal norms after an unusually warm weekend.

Eastern parts of the country saw temperatures climb above 20C on Sunday under warm northwesterly winds, but colder air has since moved in from the south, dropping daytime highs and shifting conditions towards a more wintery pattern.

For the Bay of Plenty, that change was expected to be felt from today into Tuesday as rain bands move through and temperatures ease back to typical June levels.

A second burst of rain is forecast for midweek, with another system expected to move from south to north on Wednesday, bringing further unsettled conditions across the region.

Conditions are then expected to ease on Thursday as a high-pressure system builds, delivering a period of calmer, more settled weather.

MetService meteorologist Dan Corrigan said the pattern reflected a return to “more June‑y” weather, sandwiched between two warmer weekends.

“Most areas will stay quite dry while getting warmer later in the week, but we’ll be keeping an eye on what next weekend’s weather system will bring,” Corrigan said.

Northwesterly winds were forecast to return towards the end of the week, lifting temperatures again across the Bay of Plenty ahead of the weekend.

While the colder air is expected to bring snow and icy conditions to parts of the South Island, Bay of Plenty residents were unlikely to see similar impacts, with rain and cooler temperatures the main features locally.