Another big low is moving into the New Zealand area and will directly affect our weather for the rest of this week.

The first of the rain or showers arrives tonight then intensifies further on Thursday with squalls, isolated thunderstorms and heavy downpours – mainly along the western coastline.

Rain will fall as snow in the Southern Alps with heavy falls higher up. On Friday rain clears most of the South Island as a colder southerly change moves in.

Driest and sunniest weather looks to be in Canterbury and other eastern areas.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz