A cold front pushes northwards over the South Island early today then the North Island in the afternoon and evening, meanwhile another cold front lands onto the lower South Island this afternoon.

Bouts of heavy rain can be expected for the West Coast of the South Island this morning then from afternoon a further surge of cold air brings showers with a chance of thunderstorms and hail about the lower South Island, mainly in the west.

Further north a period of showers may become heavy about the western North Island for a time later in the afternoon / evening. Conditions for eastern New Zealand are mainly dry and sunny, overnight a southwest change moves through north Otago and Canterbury (mainly coastal) which could bring heavy showers and hail.

Showers for western New Zealand on Wednesday, Taranaki through to Kapiti could see the odd heavy fall and some small hail in the morning then easing from afternoon. Any morning showers about coastal Canterbury clear. Despite the chance of a shower in the east for other eastern areas like the east coast of the North Island and coastal Otago the majority of the day will be dry with some sun.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz