On Thursday we have a front crossing over the North Island, moving from west to east during the day – and bringing heavy rain to many places in both islands.

This front hooks into a low that sits over the South Island, slowly moving northwards, while behind it a southerly airflow moves in.
So much of the North Island will see rain – heaviest in the west in the morning, with torrential falls for some – particularly Taranaki and the central North Island.
The front slowly moves eastwards as the day goes on, while strong northeast winds ahead of the front then change to the west.

The South Island sees morning rain ease then clear in the west, as northerlies turn to the southwest.
A few further showers may push through in the evening however, mainly about North Westland.
In the east, we see morning rain clear Canterbury and Marlborough, before further showers move in during the afternoon and evening, as a southwest change pushes northwards.

Southland and Otago see southwesterlies move in during the morning, bringing showers – which mostly clear in the afternoon – then a few sunny areas break through.

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