A storm with heavy rain and strong winds is lining up Otago.
Niwa climate scientist Nava Fedaeff said a big storm is heading for New Zealand and could hit Otago on Friday.
The storm was different from the one that hit the province last week.
The last storm brought cold air from the Southern Ocean and snow to low levels.
The next one was connected to the mild subtropics, resulting in above-average temperatures for most places from tomorrow.
The heavy rain and gusty wind could hit the east of the South Island, most likely on Friday.
Despite the warmer nature of the coming storm, the South Island's skifields stood to benefit from plenty of fresh snow, she said.
The snow would not fall as low across Otago as it did last week, she said.
MetService meteorologist Sarah Sparks said things would get "a bit tricky'' later in the week and said southerly gales would become severe in Wellington, coastal Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay on Saturday.
