A ridge of high pressure is expected to arrive today.

The MetService says by Sunday, the earlier cold front will have cleared to the east and a large area of high pressure begins to dominate our weather into next week.

Hot conditions return to the eastern South Island on Monday, with Blenheim and Ashburton expected to reach 32°C and Christchurch 30°C.

Sunday, February 4

During Sunday, a ridge moves onto central and northern New Zealand, while a strengthening northwest flow develops farther south.

There is moderate confidence of warnable amounts of rain for Fiordland. Meanwhile, there is moderate confidence northwesterlies will rise to severe gale about Stewart Island, and low confidence for exposed parts of Fiordland south of Milford Sound, Southland and Clutha.

Monday, February 5

On Monday, a ridge of high pressure remains over the North Island, while a strong northwest flow covers the South Island.

There is low confidence rainfall amounts will reach warning criteria about Fiordland and about the ranges of Westland south of the glaciers.

There is moderate confidence of severe northwest gales about exposed parts of Fiordland south of Milford Sound, Stewart Island, Southland and Clutha.

Finally, there is low confidence that northwest winds will require a warning about exposed parts of the remainder of Otago, plus the Canterbury High Country.

Tuesday, February 6

On Tuesday, a ridge of high pressure remains over the North Island, while a front preceded by a strong northwest flow moves onto southern New Zealand, then becomes slow-moving.

There is high confidence rainfall amounts will reach warning criteria about Fiordland, moderate confidence about the ranges of Westland south of the glaciers, and low confidence for Southland.

There is moderate confidence of severe northwest gales about exposed parts of Fiordland south of Milford Sound, Stewart Island, Southland and Clutha, and low confidence about exposed parts of the remainder of Otago, plus the Canterbury High Country.

Wednesday, February 7

On Wednesday, the ridge over the North Island should drift slowly northwards, while the front in the south should move north while weakening.

There is high confidence rainfall amounts will reach warning criteria about Fiordland, moderate confidence about the ranges of Westland south of the glaciers, and low confidence for Southland.

There is moderate confidence of severe northwest gales about exposed parts of Fiordland south of Milford Sound, Stewart Island, Southland and Clutha, and low confidence about exposed parts of the remainder of Otago, plus the Canterbury High Country.