An anticyclone in the Tasman Sea directs a southwesterly airflow over New Zealand today, a weakening front slowly moves northwards over the South Island during the day. A large anticyclone covers New Zealand on Friday bringing mainly settled weather.

Mostly sunny for most of the western North Island today, some cloud out west (mainly Taranaki northwards) late afternoon / evening may bring a shower. Morning showers about Gisborne then some afternoon sun, mostly sunny elsewhere along the east coast. A period of rain or showers moves onto the lower South Island this morning, easing from afternoon and some sun breaking through. Canterbury is mostly sunny, some late afternoon or evening cloud. A mainly sunny day for Nelson and Marlborough.

Mostly sunny for the North Island on Friday, any morning showers about Northland clear. Some cloud along the east coast still with a shower or two possible again in the morning about Gisborne. The South Island has a mainly sunny day also, morning cloud north of about Greymouth may bring a shower then clearing.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz