A large anticyclone covers New Zealand today bringing mainly settled weather, parts of the North Island may become unstable later this afternoon especially inland. An anticyclone continues to hang around on Saturday however a northerly airflow does start to develop over the South Island.

Showers for most of today about Northland. Late afternoon / evening isolated showers develop about inland areas, some may become heavy with thunderstorms then clearing at night. A mix of sun and cloud otherwise for most coastal areas. A mix of sun and cloud for Nelson / Marlborough, chance of an isolated shower late afternoon / evening about inland areas. The West Coast has similar weather to Nelson however skies may be cloudy to start in the morning with the chance of a light shower. Canterbury and coastal Otago are fairly cloudy, risk of a light shower or drizzle patch especially morning, southerlies tend easterly in the afternoon. A mix of sun and cloud for Southland and Central Otago.

A mix of sun and cloud for most of the North Island on Saturday, some inland areas may see isolated showers late afternoon / evening, perhaps the chance of a downpour / thunderstorm then clearing at night. Morning cloud breaks for the eastern South Island then mostly sunny with some high cloud, some cloud and a light shower or two for the West Coast, long dry periods also.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz