A ridge brings a settled period of weather to most of New Zealand today 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 strong northwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand on Saturday.

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.

Some rain for the western North Island on Saturday, easing in the evening then picking up again overnight. Auckland northwards has a fairly dry day however there may be a few spits in the afternoon. Scattered rain for the east coast on Saturday clears away in the afternoon, winds from the northwest. Gales likely through Cook Strait afternoon onwards. Heavy rain (possibly torrential) for the West Coast of the South Island, easing during the evening. Morning spots of rain in the east then mainly dry with high cloud, winds strong from the northwest especially about inland areas where gales are possible from afternoon.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz