A ridge lies over the South Island on Thursday while a southeasterly airflow lies over the North Island, strong in the far north.

A mainly sunny day for the South Island on Thursday, some cloud builds about inland hills / ranges in the afternoon bringing the low risk of an isolated shower by evening. Light winds and afternoon sea breezes.

East to southeasterly winds for the North Island, strong about the far north and offshore to the northeast. Cloudy in the east with the odd light shower or drizzle patch, sunnier out west with high cloud gradually developing. Showers turning to rain about Northland in the afternoon, the odd heavy fall possible by evening. Showers or areas of rain moving into Auckland, Waikato and the Bay Of Plenty overnight.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz