A cold front moves north over the South Island today, northwesterlies ahead of the front means dry warm weather in the east. Western regions are wet, rain or showers about the far south spreads northwards in the east from this afternoon.

Northland, Auckland, Waikato & Bay Of Plenty
Partly cloudy with occasional showers, Bay Of Plenty may not see a shower till afternoon. Winds fresh from the southwest tending northwest later in the day. Overnight or around dawn on Saturday expect rain as a front moves in.
Highs: 15 – 17

Western North Island (including Central North Island)
Showers, early rain about Manawatu eases. Rain picks up overnight with heavy falls, thunderstorms and hail possible (any thunder mainly coastal). Northwesterlies strengthen after midday.
Highs: 9 – 15

Eastern North Island
Morning rain or showers clears to mostly sunny weather, cloud thickens later in the day. Southwesterlies tend west to northwest in the afternoon, strengthening later for Wairarapa where there may be a few spits later on.
Highs: 16 – 19

Wellington
Early rain clears then breaking to sun, cloud increases from afternoon with a few spits or showers possible mainly in the north, becoming more widespread in the evening. Northwesterly winds strengthen.
High: 15

Marlborough & Nelson
Mostly sunny with some high cloud, evening rain for Nelson (heavy about Tasman) with spits or showers spreading into Marlborough as northwesterlies strengthen.
Highs: 15 – 18

Canterbury
Mostly sunny with some mid and high cloud, winds from the northwest. Overnight southwesterlies strengthen with showers then rain, heavy falls, thunder and hail possible.
Highs: 15 – 19

West Coast
Showers, rain for Fiordland spreads northwards in the afternoon with a chance of heavy falls. Thunderstorms possible in the evening. Rain eases overnight as northwesterlies change to the southwest.
Highs: 11 – 14

Southland & Otago
Spits turn to rain in the morning for Southland, a few spits or showers further north during the afternoon. Northwesterlies tend westerly in the afternoon becoming strong for coastal Southland. Winds change strong to gale southerly overnight with rain becoming heavy, hail possible too, not reaching Otago till dawn on Saturday, snow lowers to 400m.
Highs: 11 – 15