A cold front pushes northwards over the South Island during today, reaching the lower North Island in the evening. A cold southwesterly airflow lies over the country on Friday.

Heavy rain spreads fairly promptly along western New Zealand today reaching the lower western North Island in the evening, rain could contain hail and thunderstorms. Westerlies becoming strong about the western North Island from afternoon. The odd shower for Northland and Auckland then overnight heavy showers. Mostly sunny in the east, any early rain clears Gisborne, spots of rain possible about Wairarapa in the evening. Scattered morning rain for Southland and Otago then showers push northwards late afternoon and evening, possibly heavy with some hail. Snow to 600m about the lower South Island in the evening.

Heavy showers ease about the upper North Island on Friday morning, some sun may break through from afternoon otherwise staying fairly cloudy, winds strong from the southwest with offshore gales. Showers about the lower western North Island clear in the evening. Any early spots of rain clear along the east coast then showers move in again late afternoon / early evening for a time, winds fresh from the southwest. Showers and strong to gale southerly winds for Wellington ease during the day. Morning showers clear the South Island’s east coast, mainly sunny in the west then cloud and a few showers develops in the evening. Showers ease during the day about Southland, strong west to southwest winds after midday.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz