Bay of Plenty residents can expect a change in weather this weekend, with warm spring temperatures giving way to cooler conditions and rain.

In its latest weather update, MetService says much of New Zealand will feel the effects of the system, which is expected to move on to the lower South Island overnight into Friday before tracking north through the weekend.

While Friday is shaping up to be relatively mild and dry across many parts of the country, including the Bay of Plenty, temperatures are expected to drop noticeably behind the front.

MetService meteorologist Maddy Neal said eastern areas could see temperatures reach the low 20s before cooler air arrives.

“The front moving onto the South Island brings a pause to the relatively settled weather we’ve been experiencing this week,” Neal said.

The front is forecast to reach the lower North Island on Saturday before continuing north, with rain expected to spread across many northern regions during the weekend. The system is likely to pass over Auckland and Northland on Sunday, while cooler-than-average mornings are forecast for much of the North Island.

For Bay of Plenty residents enjoying the school holidays, the message is to be prepared for changing conditions.

“If you’re planning on taking the kids outside, pack a rain jacket and an extra layer,” Neal said.

The unsettled weather is not expected to last long. By Sunday afternoon, much of the rain should have cleared and a ridge of high pressure is forecast to bring more settled weather for the start of the second week of the school holidays.

Meanwhile, severe weather watches are in place for parts of the lower South Island, including a heavy rain watch for Fiordland north of Doubtful Sound and strong wind watches covering Southland, Clutha, Dunedin, Central Otago and the Southern Lakes, where north-westerly winds could approach severe gale force.

For Bay of Plenty residents, the biggest impacts are expected to be cooler temperatures and the chance of weekend rain before calmer conditions return next week.