A strengthening westerly quarter airflow lies over New Zealand today, a weakening front within this flow pushes off the upper South Island this morning then onto the western North Island by midday. A gusty westerly airflow continues to push through on Friday, a weakening front moves northwards over the South Island during the day.

A period of showers spreads northwards along the west coast of the North Island today, only a few showers reaching Auckland later in the evening. Dry in the east with a touch of high cloud although a few spits may move into Wairarapa at times. Early showers clear the West Coast of the South Island then sun breaks through. The odd shower about Fiordland, turning to rain later in the evening or overnight and moving northwards. Morning cloud breaks to sunny areas and some high cloud for the east of the South Island, there could be a few clearing light morning showers or spots of rain Banks Peninsula northwards in the east also. West to northwesterly winds strengthen over the South Island during the day.

Some cloud at times for the western North Island on Friday, sunny and hot out east. Morning rain for the West Coast of the South Island, easing to showers by midday and clearing in the afternoon with sun breaking through. Mostly sunny for the eastern South Island, showers clear in the morning about the far south then sun breaks through. Winds gusty from the west about the far south and inner parts of the South Island during the day.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz