A large anticyclone to the east directs a light easterly quarter airflow over New Zealand today. The airflow is light on Friday, conditions mainly anticyclonic.

A shower or two brushes eastern and northeastern coastal parts of the North Island today, a mix of sun and cloud elsewhere. Morning cloud then sunny areas for most of the South Island, chance of an isolated shower in the afternoon about inland Canterbury and Buller then clearing in the evening.

Areas of cloud and sun for most of the North Island on Friday, a few morning showers about Bay Of Plenty, Coromandel and possible the east coast (especially Gisborne). The odd isolated shower may crop up late afternoon / evening from Northland down through to Bay Of Plenty. Morning mid level cloud breaking to sunny areas and some high cloud for most South Island regions, light winds tending onshore in the afternoon.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz