A northwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand today with a cold front pushing onto the lower South Island around midday, reaching the top of the South Island just after midnight. This front forms a low on it for Friday and pushes over the North Island.

Mostly sunny to start for the upper North Island today, a few isolated showers may push in during the afternoon however from Northland through to Bay Of Plenty. Mainly sunny in the east, some cloud in the west with the chance of a light shower or two about Kapiti. Heavy rain pushes northwards along the West Coast of the South Island from afternoon, dry and warm in the east however a cold southwest change pushes into Southland and Otago during the afternoon reaching Banks Peninsula in the evening bringing rain or showers.

There may be a few morning areas of sun for the northeastern North Island on Friday then rain pushes in by afternoon. This rain may be heavy as marked below for the southwestern North Island then easing later in the day. Morning heavy rain for Nelson / Marlborough then easing, conditions further south gradually clear.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz