A ridge of high pressure lies over the South Island today, southeasterlies for the North Island. Similar conditions prevail on Friday, a front moves onto the lower South Island from afternoon.

Showers or some rain at times for the eastern North Island today, sunnier conditions out west although there may be some cloud at times especially for Northland with isolated showers possible late afternoon / evening. Also some fog possible this morning about Auckland and the Waikato. Morning showers Taranaki southwards in the west clear. Expect a few showers about Marlborough and perhaps this morning for Nelson, mostly cloudy down through to about Banks Peninsula in the east. Morning cloud south of Banks Peninsula breaks then expect sunny areas and some high cloud. Mostly sunny conditions for the West Coast with some high cloud.

Rain or showers once again for the eastern North Island on Friday, sunny spells out west although showers may move into Northland / northern Auckland at times. Any morning showers clear Marlborough otherwise mainly dry. Rain moves into Fiordland by midday then pushes a little further north in the evening and overnight. Some rain moves into Southland during the afternoon then Otago in the evening with the passage of a front.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz