An active front is expected to bring rain and strong winds to many parts of the South over Easter weekend.
A showery southwest flow is expected to spread over the country on Thursday, as a weakening front clears the North Island.
These southwesterlies are expected to be strong in exposed places, with gales likely about exposed parts of Clutha and Dunedin for a time.
The southwesterlies ease over the North Island on Friday, while turning more northwesterly over the South Island as a front approaches from the Tasman Sea.
An active front is expected to reach the South Island late on Saturday, preceded by northerly gales and rain.
This front is currently expected to move east over the South Island on Sunday, reaching the North Island at night.
Rainfall accumulations could exceed warning amounts about Fiordland, southern Westland and the Otago and South Canterbury headwaters on Saturday.
In addition, there is a low risk that northerlies will reach severe gale about Fiordland and Southland on Saturday,
