High pressure today slowly starts to drift east of NZ, allowing a windier nor’wester to move back up the country over the next couple of days.

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Let’s get into the forecast for Thursday to start with…

RAIN:
Most places are dry today but showers are likely to bubble up around the North Island with some downpours and even thunder, drifting eastwards during the day . A few showers for the South Island’s West Coast.

WIND:
Nor’west winds start to pick up today around the country with gusty winds around the South Island’s mountains and ranges, and around Cook Strait. Lighter winds at the top of the country.

TEMPERATURES:
Today is mild to milder than average nationwide.

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FRIDAY & WEEKEND AHEAD, EARLY NEXT WEEK
On Friday windier nor’westers return over the South Island and lower North Island as the high pressure moves away to our east with those nor’westers producing higher temperatures in the eastern North Island and the upper South Island, north of Banks Peninsula basically. Severe gales are possible. Heavy rain sets into the southern half of the West Coast on Friday. Heavy rain warnings are possible there.

By Saturday – Windy westerlies carry on through the upper half of the South Island – with West Coast rain and further showers in Southland, but a warm and windy nor-wester for much of the North Island.

Sunday sees conditions easing again – with lighter winds for most, but still some showers around the country. And this is ahead of Monday’s next south to south-west surge of showers with cooler air.

But by Tuesday and Wednesday of next week high pressure looks to once again move into the country bringing calm weather and mostly dry skies.

As always drill down deeper with your hyper-local, hourly, FREE 10 day forecasts from WeatherWatch.co.nz – or download the FREE WeatherWatch App.