7:15am update, mentions Tauranga weather following yesterdays flooding.

A series of fronts will today move up the South Island reaching the North Island overnight tonight.

A warm front should move across the upper South Island around noon while a cold front moves into Southland and Fiordland around the same time.

Mostly dry skies should remain over the North Island today thanks to a narrow ridge of high pressure holding those fronts back.

Yesterday saw a narrow but very heav band of rain affected Tauranga and Mt Maunganui causing more flooding.  The band was so narrow it made forecasting its path difficult however by early afternoon it was clear to weatherwatch.co.nz that it was going nowhere fast. 

Today that band of rain and showers remains in the area, however it has weakened and is showing signs of clearing this morning.  Overnight heavy rain appeared across the entire length of the Kaimai and Coromandel ranges. 

Tomorrow the weakening cold front will move into the North Island bringing a period of rain to lower regions while only a few showers spread elsewhere.

Temperatures remain higher over the South Island as a northerly builds over most regions meanwhile light winds and sea breezes will greet most North Islanders today, apart from regions south of about New Plymouth.  Northerlies in Wellington will pick up later today but nothing severe is in the forecast – just a little gusty.

The warmth in the South Island wont last for everyone.  The low responsible for bringing today’s rain is also going to drag up some cooler sou’westers tomorrow in Southland.  Daytime highs will fall about 10 degrees from the low to mid 20s to the lower teens in Invercargill.

Dunedin should also feel a noticeable drop as that south west change rolls through tomorrow.  But it will take until Friday to affect many other regions.

The majority of the North Island should stay relatively normal with no heavy rain, lighter winds and no sudden drop in temperatures.  Slightly cooler sou’westers may affect more southern regions on Friday.

MetService has confidence that rain warnings will be issued for the South Island’s West Coast over the next day or so too.