Milder winds will affect the nation over the next day or two as a messy low pressure zone moves in and high pressure moves out. Rain will be heaviest along the western South Island with some spillover into northern and eastern regions. The North Island also has some rain and showers, possibly a few heavy downpours, as it tracks through late week and going into Saturday.

By Sunday and Monday a cooler/colder airflow will cover most regions and winds ease going into next week bringing frost potential – all ahead of the next powerful high pressure zone.