The Bay of Plenty could be one of the country’s better spots weather-wise this week, despite a powerful spring-like weather pattern bringing gale-force winds and wintry conditions to large parts of New Zealand.

WeatherWatch.co.nz forecaster Phil Duncan said the coldest weather was in the South Island, where snow flurries have been reported around Dunedin and colder air is spreading into Southland.

While a polar boundary is pushing north and clipping the lower North Island, Duncan said the upper North Island, including Bay of Plenty, would largely avoid the worst of the cold outbreak.

Instead, a strong westerly flow is expected to dominate through the week and into the weekend, bringing severe gales at times to exposed parts of the country.

“There are three main wind tunnels,” Duncan told The Country.

“Cook Strait, Foveaux Strait and, to some degree, the Auckland area.”

The strongest winds are forecast for the hills and ranges of the lower North Island and along the Southern Alps.

Despite the unsettled conditions elsewhere, Duncan said those looking for the best weather over the coming week should head north.

“Probably the further north you go, you’re going to have lower rainfall and the wind won’t be as strong, so maybe the Far North or parts of Bay of Plenty,” he said.

The comments will be welcome news for Bay of Plenty residents after a wet winter.

The region is expected to avoid the heavy rain forecast for parts of the West Coast, where 200mm to 300mm could fall this week.

Duncan said New Zealand had shifted into an early spring weather pattern, with frequent westerlies and changeable conditions expected to continue.