Snow on the ranges, coastal gales and some heavy downpours make up the forecast for Wednesday, but by tomorrow a briefly milder change returns to the South Island.

High pressure moving in means frosts will be expected inland over both main islands on Thursday and Friday.

Some showers are forecast but most regions see a drier trend returning in the days ahead, although Fiordland, Southland and parts of Otago may still be exposed to a couple more cold fronts.

Australia has showers again in southern WA, VIC, western TAS and just south of Cairns – otherwise dry for most places thanks to a lot of high pressure.