A cold southwesterly airflow develops over New Zealand today, a front within this flow clears the North Island in the morning then another region of activity builds over the South Island from afternoon. A cold southerly airflow eases from the south over New Zealand on Saturday.

Morning showers for the western North Island may be heavy with hail and possible thunderstorms then easing with some sun breaking through by midday, winds from the west. Sunny areas and some cloud in the east. Showers for the West Coast of the South Island clears overnight, elsewhere over the South Island expect sunny spells and the chance of an isolated shower. Showers becoming more widespread during the afternoon, there may even be the odd isolated heavy fall with some hail then easing overnight for Southland / Otago.

Showers for most of the western North Island on Saturday, clearing in the evening. Rain about the Wairarapa may be heavy in the morning then easing and pushing northwards during the afternoon, rain clears overnight. Early rain about Marlborough may be heavy then easing and clearing away, shower activity for the rest of the South Island clears in the morning then sunny spells increase from afternoon. Mainly sunny weather on the West Coast and about Southland / Otago, any morning cloud for Southland / Otago clears away.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz