A cold front pushes northwards over New Zealand during today reaching the North Island in the afternoon, it will weaken as it moves northwards. Strong northwesterlies ahead of the front then changing colder southwest in behind. A high lies over the South Island on Saturday while an east to southeasterly airflow flows over the North Island.

Showers for the west of the North Island south of about Waikato today, clearing in the evening. Out east conditions are mainly dry however a southwest change late afternoon or evening may bring a few showers to the Wairarapa then later on for Hawkes Bay and Gisborne.

Morning heavy rain and possible thunderstorms for the West Coast of the South Island then clearing and sunny areas increasing in the afternoon. Strong northwesterly winds in the east with gales in the high country then a southwest change (coastal gales Banks Peninsula southwards) races northwards during this morning, staying mainly dry for Canterbury and Marlborough although a shower or two is possible. Morning showers for Southland could contain some small hail.

A calmer picture on Saturday. A few showers for Auckland and Northland in the afternoon as an easterly surge moves in. Cloudy along the east coast with some drizzle or light showers, dry spells more frequent from afternoon. In the west conditions are looking mostly sunny after any morning cloud breaks away although cloud may pester Taranaki during the day.

For the South Island it’s a cold start inland, perhaps a light frost for Central Otago. A fair amount of cloud hangs about Canterbury through to Nelson although areas of sun do break through in the afternoon. Mostly sunny for Southland and Otago after any early cloud clears.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz