Some rain is expected to creep into the Bay of Plenty as we head into the weekend.

The MetService is forecasting a front to move slowly north over the central South island on Friday.

"Snow could affect much of inland Otago but warning amounts look unlikely apart from the far north where the risk of warning amounts of snow is considered high, above about 400 metres," says a spokesperson for the weather organisation.

"There is a high risk of heavy snow in Canterbury above about 400 metres and there is a chance that some snow could accumulate at levels even slightly below that. There is high risk of warning amounts of rain for Westland and low risk of warning amounts of rain for Buller and the far west of Nelson.

"There is low risk of severe northwesterly gales for the Marlborough Sounds, Wellington and the far south of Wairarapa."

On Saturday, the front moves northeast onto the North Island.

The MetService says there is then low risk of heavy rain for the north of Nelson and Marlborough, Wellington, Kapiti and the Tararua Range.

"There is also low risk of heavy rain for the upper North Island from Taranaki to the Bay of Plenty northwards. There is low risk of severe northwesterly gales for the Marlborough Sounds, Wellington and the far south of Wairarapa.

"On Sunday, the front moves away to the east of the North Island but it could still bring rain to the far east of the Bay of Plenty and the far west of Gisborne and there is low risk that these areas could receive warning amounts.

"On Monday, a front is expected to move west onto Gisborne and there is low confidence in warning amounts of rain for Gisborne and the eastern ranges of the Bay of Plenty then."