A northwest airflow lies over New Zealand on Saturday. Heavy rain for the West Coast of the South Island, the odd shower possible for the western North Island, mainly dry and warm for eastern regions of both Islands. Northwesterlies continue on Sunday with a big front sweeping northwards during the day.

A mix of sun and cloud for most of the North Island on Saturday, chance of a shower about Taranaki and Kapiti at times. There may also be an isolated shower or two for western / upper parts of the North Island from afternoon otherwise mainly dry. Areas of rain or showers for the West Coast of the South Island, thunderstorms possible also. High cloud and mainly dry out east, showers spread into Southland at times.

Showers for the western / upper North Island may become heavy with thunderstorms from afternoon, later in the evening rain moves in from the west with a chance of heavy falls. A mainly dry day in the east, spots of rain may spread into Wairarapa from afternoon. Heavy rain for the West Coast of the South Island with occasional thunderstorms. High cloud out east, spots of rain spread into Canterbury Banks Peninsula northwards and Marlborough for a time in the afternoon. A dry morning for Southland and Otago then showers develop in the afternoon, some may be heavy with thunderstorms and hail.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz