A cold southwest change pushes northwards over the South Island this morning, reaching the lower North Island around midday and the upper North Island later this afternoon or evening. A moderate southwesterly airflow lies over the country on Friday, perhaps strong in the morning out east then easing.

Conditions are dry to start about the western North Island today, rain or showers moves into the southwestern corner during the morning then further north around midday. Sunny areas and some high cloud in the east, some rain develops about Wairarapa in the afternoon then a few showers may make it into Hawkes Bay in the evening with a southwest change. Heavy morning rain for the West Coast of the South Island eases. Dry to start about Canterbury then a fresh southwest change pushes northwards during the morning bringing showers, some may be heavy with a risk of hail then clearing overnight. Some snow develops about the ranges of North Canterbury down to 500-600m. Rain or showers may be heavy this morning about the far south with a risk of hail then easing, fresh cold southwesterlies and snow to 400m in the morning then gradually lifting.

Mostly cloudy for the western and upper North Island on Friday, there may be a shower or two about also especially Taranaki through to Kapiti. The Bay Of Plenty stays mainly dry with more frequent sunny spells. Showers about Wairarapa spread further north along the east coast during the afternoon. Cloudy areas and the odd shower Hokitika northwards for the West Coast, sunnier conditions further south. A mix of sun and cloud in the east, a few showers out on Banks Peninsula don’t clear till evening. Morning showers for Southland and Otago then drying out with increasing sunny areas in the afternoon.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz