A ridge brings settled weather to the South Island today, south to southeasterly winds ease over the North Island. An anticyclone lies in the Tasman Sea on Wednesday continuing to spread a ridge over New Zealand.

A mainly sunny day for western parts of the North Island today, just a few morning showers about western Northland to clear away. In the east expect mostly cloudy skies and the odd shower. The South Island is mainly sunny although there may be some coastal morning cloud, perhaps a clearing morning shower about Banks Peninsula.

A mostly sunny morning for Northland through to Waikato on Wednesday, some cloud may drift in from afternoon. A sunny day for the Bay Of Plenty. In the west Taranaki southwards through to Kapiti expect cloudy areas and some sun at times. Gisborne sees a few morning showers then sunny areas break through from afternoon, Hawkes Bay is mostly sunny after morning cloud, sunny for the Wairarapa. Some cloud for the western South Island, sunnier in the east with a touch of high cloud from afternoon. Some rain or showers about Fiordland and Southland.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz