An unsettled westerly quarter airflow brings wet weather in the west today with drier conditions out east, however a small low sitting east of the South Island encourages a southwest change to push northwards bringing rain or showers through into Canterbury by evening. New Zealand lies under a southwesterly airflow on Tuesday, potentially unstable in the morning for the North Island especially in the west.

Quite unsettled today with a strong northwesterly airflow turning southwest about the lower South Island during today. Expect wet weather for much of the North Island however Gisborne down through to the Wairarapa just sees spill over rain at times coming in from the west. Thunderstorms and some hail possible in the west also, mainly Taranaki southwards but perhaps further north near the coast later this evening. Heavy rain and a chance of thunderstorms / hail for the west of the South Island this morning then easing from afternoon, rain or showers developing this morning for Southland / Otago and southern parts of Canterbury then moving northwards in the evening.

Still quite unstable for the western North Island on Tuesday morning, gradually easing from afternoon. A few showers affect the east coast with a southwest change. The South Island starts to clear up with a frosty start expected for many inland areas. A few showers affect Southland and coastal Otago during the day however.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz