Quite unsettled for most of New Zealand today with a low centre east of the country driving in a cold southerly airflow. A cold southerly airflow continues to lie over the both Islands on Tuesday, strong in the north then easing from evening.

Rain or showers for most of the North Island today, showers may become heavy with hail and thunderstorms from afternoon in the west.  Rain becomes heavy this afternoon about Wellington with strong to gale southerly winds developing. Rain about Marlborough and North Canterbury may be heavy this morning then easing to showers. Becoming sunny on the West Coast with showers Greymouth northwards clearing during this morning. Snow lowers to 500m about parts of the lower North Island this evening, perhaps getting as low as 300m about some inland South Island areas however flurries at this level will be light, heavier snowfall more likely higher up.

Rain about the eastern North Island is heavy at times on Tuesday as a strong south to southeasterly airflow drives over the North Island during the day. Drier spells out west however still expect showers at times. The South Island has mostly cloudy skies in the east with the odd light shower or two, sunny along the West Coast.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz