A southwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand today. Expect showers in the west and far south, gradually spreading up the South Island’s east coast from afternoon. Southwesterlies continue on Tuesday, a rapidly approaching front and low combination move into the lower South Island from afternoon then pushes northwards in the evening bringing in a cold change.

Showers move into the western North Island this morning, easing during the afternoon then picking up again later this evening / overnight. Mostly sunny weather along the east coast, a few clouds from afternoon about Wairarapa as westerlies freshen. Morning rain for the South Islands West Coast may be heavy then easing from afternoon. Rain about Southland eases to showers this morning. The odd shower about Otago, more persistent near the coast from late afternoon. A dry morning for Canterbury then a few showers from afternoon as southwesterlies freshen.

Showers for most of the day along the western side of the North Island although long dry spells develop in the afternoon for Bay Of Plenty and Waikato down through to Kapiti, perhaps becoming mainly dry before showers move back in at night. Rain or showers for Wairarapa and perhaps southern Hawkes Bay then drier further north along the east coast. Showers then heavy rain with a chance of thunderstorms pushing northwards along the West Coast of the South Island during the day. Heavy showers with a risk of hail move into Southland early afternoon reaching North Canterbury in the evening, thunderstorms possible for Canterbury with the change. Snow lowers to 400m about Southland / Otago and 500m for Canterbury as the cold change pushes through.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz