A ridge brings a settled period of weather to most of New Zealand on Friday however not for long, the second half of the day sees a northwesterly airflow strengthen over the South Island. A warm then cold front move onto the lower South Island later in the day.

A calmer picture for the North Island on Friday, southwesterly winds may still be a little breezy in areas. A few morning showers clear the east coast then sunny spells increase.

As a northwesterly airflow builds over the South Island cloud banks up in the west with rain moving into South Westland from afternoon then pushing northwards overnight, drier in the east with some developing high cloud. Some scattered rain for Southland and Otago late afternoon or evening.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz