Much of the country is in for wet and windy weather this weekend before the changeable spring weather turns warm again.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Rain is expected in western parts of the South Island and the lower North Island, with the heaviest downpours in Fiordland, Westland, the Buller Ranges, and the Canterbury and Otago headwaters.
The road between Te Anau and Milford is being closed from 5pm as a precaution with 200mm of rain expected to fall on Fiordland in 24 hours from 6pm.
An alert for heightened avalanche conditions is also in place for areas above 1200m in Fiordland until tomorrow morning.
Looking forward to getting the togs out and heading to the beach? Prefer to stay snuggly in your winter coat? Great news! Nov has something for everyone. It’s a cool, wet start followed by a milder, drier week. Find out what’s in store for Nov at https://t.co/Pg4NeIiqa5.^JM pic.twitter.com/oAx5jaQBKC
— MetService (@MetService) November 1, 2018
Eastern and central parts of the South Island and the lower North Island are in for northwest gales on Saturday.
MetService has issued a warning for the Canterbury High Country, Marlborough, Wellington and the Wairarapa.
Strong winds are also due in Southern Fiordland, Southland, Otago and the rest of Canterbury.
The blast of bad weather is due to lift after the weekend, but MetService says there will be large week-to-week variations in a 'spring-like' month of November.
"Week one looks very cold and wet but week two looks warm and dry, MetService meteorologist James Millward said.
"Nothing lasts forever, even cold November rain."
Cool southwesterlies will dominate early on, Mr Millward said.
"Following that, the Tasman should stabilise bringing drier conditions for the North Island but moist northwesterlies for the lower South.
"Into the second half of the month, a settled Southern Ocean and occasional Tasman lows look set to bring us a real mixed bag.
"Pretty spring-like really."
Further out, Most of New Zealand is due for above average or near average temperatures over the next three months.
Niwa meteorologist Ben Noll said there would be some warm summer-like spells and normal to below normal rainfall.
