MetService has issued a Severe Weather Outlook for the first part of the coming week.

"Severe weather is expected to affect many areas tomorrow, Monday," says a MetService forecaster.

"Watches and Warnings have been issued. An active front moving east across the country is bringing heavy rain and northwest gales to many areas."

A trough of low pressure is forecast to move northwards over the South Island, followed by colder southerly winds. The snow level is expected to lower to around 500 metres from Canterbury southwards and some higher roads may be affected.

For the South Island there is a high confidence that warning amounts of rain will affect the ranges of Westland and the headwaters of the Otago and Canterbury lakes and rivers.

There is a moderate confidence in warning amounts of rain over a broader area over the South Island including the remainder of Westland, Buller and the west of Nelson.

There is a high confidence that severe northwest gales will affect the Southern Alps from Otago through Westland and the Canterbury high country. There is a moderate confidence that severe northwest gales will affect the Marlborough Sounds.

For the North Island there is a moderate confidence in warning amounts of rain about Mt Taranaki and a low confidence in warning amounts of rain for the central North Island high country and the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges.

There is a moderate confidence in severe northwest gales for Wellington and the south of Wairarapa and a low confidence that severe northwest gales will affect the south of the central North Island high country and the Ruahine Range. 

"On Tuesday a front is expected to move northeast over the far east of the Bay of Plenty. There is a low confidence in warning amounts of rain for the eastern ranges of the Bay of Plenty before dawn," says a MetService forecaster.

A cold showery southerly flow is expected to affect the country on Wednesday, July 3, but the risk of severe weather is minimal.

On Thursday, a ridge of high pressure should bring settled weather to much of the country, while a showery southwesterly flow will develop over the South Island.

The risk of severe weather is minimal later in the week.