A large low in the Southern Ocean will today start to spread wind and cloud onto New Zealand from the west ahead of two or three fairly rough days ahead.

Conditions aren’t expected to be too severe despite the storm being a large one. One of the key factors helping us is the fact that the centre of the low is well south of the country between New Zealand and Antarctica.

MetService is indicating a number of warnings are likely to be issued across the West Coast and some western parts of the North Island.

The rain is likely to kick in tomorrow along with winds in central areas and those directly east of main divides from Canterbury to Gisborne.

Today should be a fairly dry and warm day across New Zealand as winds from the northerly quarter develop.