A Severe Weather Outlook has been issued by MetService for the week ahead.

On Monday, a slow moving low lying west of New Zealand, with an associated front, is forecast to deliver some rain and easterlies to the lower South Island.

Meanwhile, another low is expected to move southward and deepen during the day, just east of the upper North Island.

This low is forecast to lie near East Cape late in the day, bringing a burst of rain to eastern Bay of Plenty and northern parts of Gisborne.

There is a low confidence that the burst of rain about western Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne will approach warning amounts later in the day.

The rainfall amounts about eastern parts of the lower South Island are not expected to reach warning amounts at this stage.

On Tuesday, the low near East Cape is forecast to continue slowly south and lie east of the North Island, delivering strong south to southwesterlies and rain over the North Island.

Meanwhile, the rain over the lower South Island eases, as the slow moving low west of the country weakens.

There is a moderate confidence of warnable amounts of rain about eastern parts of Hawkes Bay south of Napier, and the Wairarapa, with a low confidence about remaining parts of Hawkes Bay, also Tairawhiti/Gisborne south of Ruatoria.

In addition, there is a low risk of severe southwest gales affecting coastal parts of Hawkes Bay north of Napier, also southern Tairawhiti/Gisborne.

The low is forecast to make slow progress eastward on Wednesday, June 26 with showers and rain persisting about eastern parts of the North Island. These showers are also affecting the top of the South Island.

There is a low confidence that rainfall accumulations will reach warning amounts about southern parts of Tairawhiti/Gisborne, and about Hawkes Bay - mainly near the coast south of Napier - with a low confidence of severe southwest gales about coastal areas.

On Thursday, southerlies are forecast to slowly ease about the North Island, although showers should persist through the morning with a low confidence of warnable amounts of rain about the Wairoa District.

A narrow ridge of high pressure is expected to cover the remainder of the country, however, a weak front is expected to approach the lower South Island later in the day on Thursday.