A strong northwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand today with a ridge over the upper North Island, a front moves onto the lower South Island this morning then gradually moving northwards during the rest of the day.

Areas of morning cloud then breaking to sunny areas about Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay Of Plenty. Winds mainly light with afternoon sea breezes, winds tending northwest elsewhere throughout the North Island. Wellington sees cloudy skies with Northwest winds, gales possible at times especially from afternoon. A warm day along the east coast with mostly sunny weather and high’s around the 30 degree mark.

For the South Island expect cloudy skies in the west with showers, rain about Fiordland spreads northwards during the day. Nelson and Marlborough are mainly dry during the day with northwesterlies, strong about the Sounds. High cloud thickens from morning. Canterbury sees sunny areas and increasing high cloud, gusty NW winds especially inland, a south to southwest change moves through in the afternoon bringing increasing cloud with showers then rain later first about South Canterbury then not arriving in North Canterbury till later in the evening.

Otago and Southland see morning rain, easing to showers around midday about Southland then clearing in the evening. Otago sees rain easing to showers in the evening then clearing around midnight.

WeatherWatch.co.nz