A series of fronts lies over the country today, connecting these fronts is an area of low pressure to the south of New Zealand and Tropical Cyclone Oma well to the northwest. Some slight ridging for the South Island on Saturday morning brings settled conditions to start then low pressure builds from afternoon, a frontal feature passes over the North Island in the morning.

Rain or showers for the western North Island today, rain may become heavy from afternoon for Northland. Thick high cloud in the east, a few spots of rain possible mainly about Wairarapa. Morning rain may be heavy for the West Coast of the South Island then easing, morning rain or showers for Southland and Otago then sunny spells develop. Nelson and Marlborough sees a few showers from afternoon. Canterbury has a mainly dry day but there could be a shower from afternoon as northwest winds change southerly.

Areas of rain or showers ease from afternoon over the North Island, winds are light picking up from the southwest midday onwards in the west. The West Coast of the South Island is mostly sunny although expect a shower or two for Fiordland then spreading elsewhere overnight as southerlies freshen. Sunny areas in the east although there may be a coastal shower or two in the morning then starting to spread elsewhere from afternoon.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz