A ridge over the North Island is set to slowly move off to the northeast during the day, while a northerly airflow increases over the rest of New Zealand.

A front in the Tasman Sea moves closer during the day – pushing onto the South Island’s West Coast (mostly South Westland) overnight.

It’s shaping up to be another frosty start for both islands too – though nothing extreme – and that heavy rain is moving into South Westland overnight and into Friday.

For more details and your long range forecast heading into a messy weekend, check out Philip Duncan’s latest weather video, here.

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

– Photo: Zelda Wynn