Settled weather is expected for most of the country as the clean-up continues in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle.

A ridge of high pressure should lie across the North Island on Tuesday.

"However, a low is expected to cross the South Island late Tuesday or early Wednesday," says a MetService spokesperson.

"A strong and cool southwest flow should extend over much of the country by the end of Wednesday. Another high is expected to move onto the South Island during Friday."

MetService says heavy rain is likely about the west and south of the South Island on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"There is moderate confidence that warning amounts of rain will fall in Westland, Fiordland and Southland during Tuesday and Wednesday, with a low confidence that a rainfall warning will be needed about inland areas of Otago and Canterbury on Wednesday.

"During Tuesday and Wednesday there is low confidence that northwest winds about Wairarapa, Wellington, Marlborough and Canterbury will be strong enough to require a warning.

"When the winds turn southwest, there is low confidence that a wind warning will be needed for coastal Otago and eastern Southland on Wednesday and about Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds late Wednesday and on Thursday."

Rain or showers are expected to affect the east of the North Island during Thursday, and there is low confidence that a rainfall warning will be needed for northern Hawke's Bay on Thursday.

"Although the rainfall expected may not usually warrant a warning, the damage already sustained in the area makes it more likely that a warning will be issued at lower thresholds than normal."