A cold west to southwesterly airflow lies over the country on Thursday.

Expect showers for much of the western North Island on Thursday, long dry periods for the Bay Of Plenty. Mostly sunny conditions for the east coast.

The West Coast of the South Island, Southland and Otago has rain or showers, snow to 400m or maybe even 300m in the morning with a risk of hail then lifting during the day. Mostly sunny for Canterbury and Marlborough, a few evening showers move into Canterbury as westerlies tend southwest.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz