A southwesterly airflow weakens over New Zealand today with a series of fronts brushing eastern coastal areas, easing and moving northwards during the day. A ridge for most of the country on Wednesday however a trough may bring a few showers to the upper North Island.

For the North Island, shower activity in the west is mainly during this morning but the odd shower may continue through till evening. In the east expect a mainly sunny day, cloud and some drizzle moves into the Wairarapa during the afternoon then further north in the evening.

For the South Island expect a few showers about Southland and the Catlins, easing during the day but hanging around through till evening. Showers are mainly during the morning elsewhere then drying out during the afternoon, some drizzle possible about Canterbury in the morning. Early morning may see a few heavy showers about Banks Peninsula then clearing.

On Wednesday expect a mainly settled day for the South Island, some cloud in the east however and especially about Nelson / Marlborough. For the North Island it’s cloudy in the east with the odd light shower or drizzle patch, drier out west. However from afternoon a small trough brings a few showers anywhere north of about Taranaki then clearing later in the evening. Southeasterly winds will be gusty offshore for northeastern parts of the North Island.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz