The settled weather across Otago and Southland will be disturbed on Sunday, when a cold southwesterly front brings heavy rain, gale-force winds and possibly snow to much of the region.
MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said the front was expected to move on to southern New Zealand from the Tasman Sea in the latter part of this weekend, bringing rainfall amounts which could reach warning criteria about Westland (south of the glaciers), Fiordland and Western Southland.
The heavy rain could also stretch as far as South Otago.
Severe northwesterly gales could also affect exposed parts of Fiordland, Southland and Stewart Island during Sunday morning, she said.
"Inland parts of the South Island, like the Canterbury high country and parts of inland Otago, can probably expect a bit of an increase in those winds too, on Sunday especially."
Snow may affect some of the higher roads over southern New Zealand.
On Monday, the front and a trough were expected to move away to the east of the country, and the cold west-to-southwesterly winds would spread northwards.
She said rain or showers were forecast for much of the southern regions, which might continue to fall as snow about some higher parts of the region.
