Rain for much of the South Island on Saturday with easterlies, snow possible to low levels for some. Northwesterlies further north. Northwesterlies continue for the North Island on Sunday, low pressure further south.

Showers for much of the western North Island and Wairarapa on Saturday, showers may be heavy with thunderstorms about Taranaki and Waikato. Hawkes Bay and Gisborne are mainly dry with some high cloud. Rain for much of the South Island, heavy at times along the West Coast, possibly heavy for inland Canterbury. Snow to 800m about North Canterbury then lowering to about 300 or possibly 200m for Otago. Heavy snow possible for inland parts of Canterbury especially Banks Peninsula southwards and North Otago.

Gusty northwesterlies cover much of the North Island on Sunday, expect showers with the odd isolated heavy fall possible especially in the west. The east coast is drier however spots of rain spread from the west at times. Wet for the West Coast of the South Island and also many in the east however Banks Peninsula northwards in the east morning showers clear then some sun breaks through. Snow flurries to 500m about the far south then lifting during the day.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz