A strong northwesterly airflow lies over the country on Thursday with a series of fronts slowly pushing northwards during the day.

Heavy rain for the West Coast of the South Island on Thursday brings thunderstorms at times, this heavy rain with a risk of thunder arriving about the North Island’s southwestern corner in the evening. Morning sun then developing cloud for the upper North Island, chance of a shower from afternoon. Mostly sunny weather in the east however a few spots of rain make their way into Wairarapa at times.

Showers or rain at times for Southland, Canterbury and Marlborough has spells of rain spreading from the west at times, winds strong from the northwest.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz