The long weekend’s settled weather is fast disappearing into the rearview mirror with heavy rain, thunderstorms and severe gales expected today in parts of New Zealand, while a “polar blast” and snow is expected to hit the country later this week. 

Much of New Zealand will be cloudy and showery today, with Auckland expecting to reach a high of 20C around 2pm - just as the rain begins to set in for the afternoon. 

But heavy rain with possible thunderstorms could arrive in Westland as soon as 9am, with MetService putting a watch in place through till 3am in the area. 

Buller and Tasman could also see heavy rain and thunderstorms from 1pm, with a watch in place through to 6am. 

There could also be warning levels of rain to Taranaki Maunga / Mt Taranaki and the Tararua Range tonight, with watches in place from 8pm till 6am. 

Severe northwesterly gales are also possible in exposed places from 5pm till 4am in Wairarapa, Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds. 

In its severe weather outlook, MetService says a front moving from the east could bring warning amounts of rain for Fiordland and possibly the North Island ranges south of Taupō on Wednesday, while severe northwesterly gales could hit the Canterbury high country, Otago, Southland and Fiordland. 

Heavy rain and severe gales could also affect parts of the country on Thursday. 

On Friday a “strong, bitterly cold southwesterly flow” is expected to affect the South Island, with snow showers possible down to near sea level for Fiordland and Southland, MetService says. 

“While warning amounts of snow are unlikely it could be enough to affect roads and bring stress to livestock.” 

Settled weather is expected to return on Saturday with a ridge of high pressure. 

‘Major Category 4 cyclone’ 

Meanwhile, a severe tropical cyclone in the Pacific is rapidly gathering strength, reaching Category 4 as it approaches Vanuatu. 

Cyclone Lola is due to make landfall in the islands of Torba and Penama in the next 24 hours, according to the latest warning from the island nation’s Meteorology & Geohazards Department. 

Winds close to the centre are around 165km/h, gusting up to 189km/h. 

Lola is the first tropical cyclone to form this season, and is unusually early - cyclone season typically runs from November to April. 

Private forecasting service WeatherWatchNZ said Lola could retain its Category 4 status or be a “very powerful [Category] 3″ when it makes landfall.