Just when you thought it was safe to go outside again…another front comes barreling in from the west – pushing into the South Island first thing in the morning, and reaching the west of the North Island by midday bringing a burst of rough weather.

This front is bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms to some, before conditions ease back in the afternoon for most western regions – becoming showers, as northwesterly winds change to the west.

The East Coast of the North Island sees thick high cloud, while a few areas of rain spread from the west around midday, then clear – with cloud breaking away and sun moving in, but winds stay gusty from the west.

In the South Island, Marlborough sees rain, clearing in the afternoon, then sun moves in, while winds blow strongly from the west or northwest.

Canterbury sees thick high cloud in the morning, with a chance of a spot of rain – more so in North Canterbury – then the sun breaks through from afternoon.

Southland and Otago see showers for much of the day also, with west to southwest winds – though coastal Otago stays a bit brighter than the rest of the region.

– Aaron Wilkinson & Drew Chappell, WeatherWatch.co.nz