A large anticyclone centred to the southeast of New Zealand pushes an easterly quarter airflow over the country today. A ridge of high pressure lies over the South Island on Tuesday meanwhile an occluded front to the east curls into a weak area of low pressure over the North Island.

Showers or rain for most east / northeastern parts of the North Island today although it will be dry this morning for most of Northland (especially in the west) down through to Taranaki. Showers push in this afternoon for southern parts of Northland down through to northern Taranaki with heavy falls and possible thunderstorms. The east coast (Gisborne to Wairarapa) may see isolated heavy falls. Generally speaking we see rain or showers for the eastern South Island today, drier in the west although isolated showers may develop about the ranges late afternoon / evening.

Looking drier for the North Island on Tuesday, the odd isolated shower may creep into Waikato / Bay Of Plenty late afternoon / evening. Rain about Wairarapa may be heavy in the morning then easing, mainly dry for Hawkes Bay / Gsiborne however during the afternoon isolated showers develop about the ranges, some may become heavy with thunderstorms. Cloud and the odd shower / drizzle patch for eastern parts of the South Island on Tuesday, sunnier conditions out west.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz