A west to southwesterly airflow lies over the country on Thursday and Friday.

Expect showers for much of the western North Island today, long dry periods for the Bay Of Plenty. Mostly sunny conditions for the east coast. The West Coast of the South Island, Southland and Otago has rain or showers, snow to 400m or maybe even 300m in the morning with a risk of hail then lifting during the day. Mostly sunny for Canterbury and Marlborough, a few evening showers move into Canterbury as westerlies tend southwest.

Showers for the western North Island again on Friday, showers develop in the morning about Wairarapa then a few push northwards into Hawkes Bay and Gisborne in the afternoon. A generally showery day for Southland and along the West Coast of the South Island, Otago has morning cloud with the risk of a shower then sunny spells develop.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz