A blustery west to southwest airflow lies over New Zealand on Thursday, within this flow a cold front moves onto the lower South Island around midday reaching the lower North Island overnight.

A shower or two for the western North Island on Thursday, especially morning. Sunnier conditions in the east.

The West Coast of the South Island sees rain or showers, rain about Southland spreads into Otago in the afternoon then Canterbury late afternoon / evening. West to southwesterly winds for the South Island especially about coastal areas will be strong with a risk of gales.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz