A northwest airflow lies over New Zealand today. Heavy rain for the West Coast of the South Island, dry and warm out east and for most North Island regions. Northwesterlies continue on Saturday.

Mostly sunny for the upper / eastern North Island today, any morning cloud breaks away. Sunny spells in the southwest (Taranaki through to Kapiti), chance of a light shower at times for Taranaki and Kapiti. Rain for the West Coast of the South Island with heavy falls, thunderstorms at times about South Westland. Showers at times from late morning about Southland, the odd shower or spit of rain may spread into Otago in the evening. Sunny areas and some high cloud from Canterbury up through to Nelson in the east.

A mix of sun and cloud for most of the North Island on Saturday, chance of a shower about Taranaki and Kapiti at times. There may also be an isolated shower or two for western / upper parts of the North Island from afternoon otherwise mainly dry. Areas of rain or showers for the West Coast of the South Island, thunderstorms possible also. High cloud and mainly dry out east, showers spread into Southland at times.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz