Several active troughs are expected to spread across parts of the country this week bringing strong winds and heavy rain in some places.

The MetService says a westerly flow will sweep several active troughs across the southern half of New Zealand, which is expected to tighten the pressure gradient and bring spells of strong to several gales across many parts of the country.

According to the MetService Tauranga will see cloudy conditions today with a high of around 15 degrees.

Tomorrow the rain is expected to creep into the city and linger until Friday when the sunshine will take over for the day.

Media and communications meteorologist Dan Corbett says the rain is then expected to return in Saturday.

'There will be strong to severe gales in places and some heavy rain, as well as much warmer temperatures, climbing well into double figures in places.”

He says the westerly flow will also bring heavy persistent rain to much of the West Coast of the South Island and MetService has already issued a severe weather warning for this event.

'These brisk westerlies will help daytime highs climb well into double figures across eastern parts of New Zealand by midweek.

'Across the North Island, the week will have a quieter start but by midweek a departing high will allow wet and windy weather to spread over northern areas.”