A low moving across the North Island is expected to deliver a cold end to the month of October.

Rain looks set to accompany the cooler temperatures during Thursday, while the MetService is forecasting the low to be preceded by a front which moved over the South Island yesterday.

Cooler temperatures are expected to usher in the last few days of October. Photo: File.

This front will become slow moving and weaken over central New Zealand throughout Wednesday.

The low should bring rain to most of the North Island during Thursday, while eastern parts of the South Island should also get some showers, including snow for the Canterbury High Country.

'The low pulls away to the east on Friday, clearing the rain from most places as we head into the weekend,” says MetService meteorologist Stephen Glassey.

'However, it will leave a colder south-west flow over the country for a couple of days.”

Temperatures in the South Island will struggle to reach the teens in many places on Thursday, while the coldest day for the North Island is likely to be Friday.

'Cold weather isn't unusual for this time of year, but it might seem a bit unseasonable for some,” says Stephen.

Temperatures should return to normal on Sunday as a ridge of high pressure moves onto New Zealand, bringing settled weather.