Bay of Plenty residents can expect a burst of wild spring weather this week, with heavy rain, strong winds and a noticeable drop in temperatures as two fronts move across the country.

MetService says a front that swept through the South Island overnight is moving north across the North Island, bringing periods of rain and blustery conditions to many areas before clearing this evening.

The change comes after a largely settled Labour weekend, with wet and windy weather returning as North Islanders head back to work and school.

MetService meteorologist Vivien Whyte said although conditions would improve briefly on Wednesday, another front was on the way.

“While there’s a brief respite on Wednesday, another front will move on to the South Island later in the day, bringing a fresh round of rain, strong winds and heavy swell exceeding 4 metres on southern- and western-facing coasts,” Whyte said.

The second weather system is expected to move across much of New Zealand on Thursday, bringing colder southwesterlies, rough seas and another spell of unsettled weather.

For Bay of Plenty residents, today’s rain is expected to ease by evening, followed by a colder night. Conditions should remain mostly settled on Wednesday before deteriorating again as the second front approaches on Thursday.

The turbulent week underlines spring’s unpredictable nature, with sharp swings in temperature and rapidly changing weather conditions seen across the country.

One of the most dramatic examples was in Dunedin, which recorded its warmest October overnight temperature since records began there in 1972, reaching 17.2C at Dunedin Airport. Less than 24 hours later, the city was forecast to reach a high of only 13C after temperatures climbed to 26C on Monday.

Whyte urged people to keep an eye on forecasts and weather alerts as conditions evolved.

“We’re keeping a close eye on the weather, so be sure to check our latest watches and warnings as the front draws closer.”

Large swells are also expected to develop around parts of the country by Thursday, with coastal residents and boaties encouraged to stay updated on conditions.