A series of cold fronts move over New Zealand today. The airflow is from the westerly quarter over the North Island while tilting more south to southwest for the South Island. A cold south to southwesterly airflow over the South Island spreads over the North Island on Tuesday.

Morning rain for the upper North Island then easing to showers around midday as northerlies change fresh westerly. Spots of rain spread into the east coast at times from midday then clearing in the evening. A few showers develop about Wellington and Kapiti late morning then clearing in the evening. Rain for the West Coast of the South Island may be heavy this morning then easing to showers. Morning rain about Southland and Otago eases to showers. Generally dry this morning for Canterbury, showers spread into areas south of Banks Peninsula by midday then further northwards mid to late afternoon as southerlies freshen. Rain about Nelson / Marlborough clears this evening as NNW winds change southwest. Snow flurries about the far south lowering to 200m later this evening, lowering to 300m overnight for Canterbury.

Showers, becoming heavy with a risk of thunderstorms and hail in the afternoon for the upper North Island as southwesterlies freshen. Conditions ease later in the evening. Rain develops about Wellington and Wairarapa in the morning then spreading northwards into Hawkes Bay and Gisborne in the afternoon. Snow lowers about the Central Plateau overnight to 600m. Rain or showers about the upper South Island ease during the day, gradually clearing from the south. Morning snow to 300m about Canterbury then clearing, 500m for Marlborough; gradually lifting and clearing. Fairly dry about the lower South Island but the odd shower may pester Southland, mainly in the morning.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz