While a fine and frosty start welcomed in Monday, an area of low pressure is bringing with it some heavy rain and blustery conditions for the Eastern Bay of Plenty this week.

The low pressure area sliding by the south of the country is set to direct a wet and windy flow across New Zealand, according to the Metservice.

The Eastern Bay of Plenty is to receive some rain this week, thanks to an area of low pressure on the way.

Whakatane's five-day forecast, from today until Friday, see's this afternoon's fine spells and light winds turn into cloudy weather tomorrow, followed by drizzle turning to rain on Wednesday, with a north-westerly strengthening.

On Thursday there's heavy rain about Eastern Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne until afternoon, with winds turning northwest, while Friday sees a few showers and the winds freshening.

The Metservice says the wettest spots this week will be in the west of the country, but while the east escapes the worst of the rain, there will still be some blustery winds to watch out for as northerly winds return.

But temperatures are set to recover this week with warmer air also moving in from the North.

Whakatane's overnight temperature will rise from three degrees Celsius last night to nine degrees Celsius overnight tonight to a double-digit 13 degrees Celsius for Wednesday night before dwindling back to nine degrees Celsius Thursday night and seven degrees Celsius for overnight Friday.

The day's high for the week range from 15 degrees Celsius to 18 degrees Celsius.

'The return of another bout of northerlies is set to help lift those night-time temperatures back above freezing,” says Metservice meteorologist John Law.

'However, we'll still see clear skies in a few areas tonight, so it looks like another frosty start for some on Tuesday.”

The Bay of Plenty region forecast for Saturday is becoming fine with westerlies easing.

A Severe Weather Watch has been issued ahead of heavy rain pushing onto the West Coast of the South Island late Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, with significant falls likely to spill across into the headwaters of the Otago and Southland rivers and lakes.

Strengthening winds are also in the forecast for other parts of the country, from the Queenstown Lakes District and the Canterbury High Country and including exposed parts of Taihape, Wellington and Marlborough.

Last night heralded a chilly start to the week for many spots in New Zealand, with temperatures as low as minus five degrees Celsius reported in parts of Canterbury and Otago.

The central plateau recorded the North Island's coldest temperatures, down to minus three degrees Celsius in Waiouru.