Ex Cyclone Cook slinks southwards down the eastern side of the South Island today, as it moves southwards expect a northwesterly airflow for the rest of New Zealand. West to northwesterly winds for much of Saturday. A low forms west of the South Island on Sunday bringing in a southerly airflow while northwesterlies continue over the North Island.

Friday

Blue – Areas of rain, heavy at times push southwards during the day along the east coast of the South Island, easing about Canterbury this morning then about coastal Otago late afternoon / evening. Some heavy rain at times about North Westland from this morning then South Westland from afternoon. All heavy rain eases overnight.

In the evening and overnight heavy showers and thunderstorms may affect Taranaki and eastern Bay Of Plenty / western East Cape.

Purple – Strong winds will mainly be limited to coastal fringes of the eastern South Island and may only be very strong for a relatively short amount of time as a deep low centre passes southwards during the day. Winds generally brisk to strong from the south or southeast then changing to the north once the low moves by. Northerlies through Cook Strait will likely be gale force in the morning then easing by midday.

Yellow – High’s reaching into the mid 20’s for the east coast of the North Island this afternoon.

Saturday

Blue – Showers in the afternoon and early evening may bring an isolated heavy fall or two, low risk of some thunder even then easing later on.

Yellow – High’s reaching into the mid 20’s for the east of the North Island once again.

Finally it’s a mainly sunny day for the east of the South Island, perhaps some high cloud though.

Sunday

Showers about the North Island may bring an isolated heavy fall or two, mainly in the west but it’s possible on land elsewhere. The risk isn’t overly great hence no shading but there is some potential there.

This time the West Coast of the South Island gets some mainly sunny weather, southerlies along the east coast bring cloud and a few showers.

– Please note, the idea behind this update is to focus on the main weather highlights, which is why not all regions are mentioned. 

For specific 10 day information for your city, town, rural community or island please see the 1500 forecasts on our homepage!

– Aaron Wilkinson, WeatherWatch.co.nz