A strong northwesterly airflow lies over the country today with a series of fronts slowly pushing northwards during the day. A front moves off to the northeast of the North Island on Friday meanwhile westerlies tend southerly during the day for the South Island.

Heavy rain for the West Coast of the South Island today 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.

Morning heavy rain for the western North Island clears on Friday morning then expect showers and sunny spells, later in the evening or overnight a burst of heavy showers with possible thunderstorms moves into western regions. Rain for the east coast spreads from the west, gradually clearing up in the afternoon. Areas of rain or showers for the West Coast of the South Island, rain may get heavy for North Westland in the evening. A few showers about Southland and Otago, becoming more organised from afternoon then spreading into Canterbury and Marlborough during the evening and overnight.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz