The MetService have revealed that temperatures are expected to drop as we head into the weekend.

Temperatures over the long Easter weekend remained high across many parts of New Zealand, with the thermometer reaching 26C at Whanganui during Monday.

Overnight lows are expected to be around 11 degrees towards the end of the week.

However, a change in wind direction towards the end of this week is expected to send temperatures tumbling by the weekend. An area of low pressure moving eastwards across the country is set to bring further wet weather to parts of Aotearoa during Thursday.

A southerly change then heads northwards across the country on Friday accompanied by showers, says MetService meteorologist John Law.

The warmer temperatures recorded by many spots over the Easter weekend were due to a warmer air mass over the country.

'This week we are set to see our temperatures turn,” warns John.

'During Easter the air over New Zealand arrived from the warm north west, but later this week the wind direction will swing to the south, bringing some cooler temperatures for the weekend.”