A south to southeasterly airflow lies over New Zealand today, wedged between a deep low to our northeast and a large high in the Tasman Sea. A ridge lies over New Zealand on Wednesday bringing mainly settled weather. A few showers for the West Coast of the South Island and morning drizzle / showers for the eastern North Island, mainly dry elsewhere.

A deep low to the northeast of the North Island brings strong southeasterly winds to some coastal parts today, winds may gust to gale in the areas indicated below. Rain or showers for the upper North Island ease during today, mostly clearing by evening. Rain or showers for much of the day along the east coast, dry in the southwest but expect some cloud. The South Islands West Coast is mainly sunny, some morning cloud about Nelson and Buller clears. Cloudy areas in the east, some morning drizzle for Canterbury clears away. There could be a light frost about some central parts of the lower South Island to start the day.

Mostly sunny for the upper / western North Island on Wednesday, there may be some cloud about northeastern coastal fringes. Morning showers / drizzle gradually clears away from Wellington up through to Gisborne. A few showers for the West Coast of the South Island, mostly sunny in the east with some high cloud. Any early cloud clears Canterbury / Marlborough then mostly sunny.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz