A strong northwesterly airflow currently lies over New Zealand, containing a front which moves northwards over the country during the day.

Rain

The West Coast of the South Island can expect rain with heavy falls during the day, those these then ease in the evening, as gusty northwesterly winds swing to the southwest.
Rain moves into the west of the North Island later in the evening and overnight from Auckland southwards, and this may bring a heavy fall or two as well.
The west of the North Island sees the odd shower before the main rain later in the day too – which could fall heavily in spurts.

Wind

Strong northwesterlies blow from Southland right up along the east coast of the South Island, and up to Wellington.
These will likely be strong especially in the afternoon, while winds may gust to gale force – especially either end of the South Island – as well as inland eastern parts of the island.

West to northwest winds will be brisk to strong from Kapiti right through to Taranaki from afternoon, along with a low risk of gales about coastal areas.
The Wairarapa sees strong northwesterly winds, possibly gusting to gale from afternoon there.
Hawkes Bay and Gisborne see gusty northwesterlies from afternoon, but these aren’t looking as strong.

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

– Photo: Chris Johnson