A low pressure system gradually passes over New Zealand today moving from west to east, winds from the north changing to the southwest during the evening and overnight. A weak ridge of high pressure moves onto the South Island on Wednesday morning, southwesterlies ease later in the day elsewhere.

Early rain eases to showers for the western North Island today, in the evening or overnight rain picks up with heavy falls and thunderstorms possible. For the east coast early rain clears then becoming mostly sunny, in the evening scattered falls may move in again spreading from the west. For the South Island expect rain or showers in the north, west and south, the east coast doesn’t really see widespread rain or showers till evening / overnight.

A showery day for much of the North Island on Wednesday with fresh cool southwesterly winds, long dry spells develop by evening. Showers clear for the upper South Island in the morning then sunny spells increase with southwesterlies easing. Becoming sunny early in the morning for the lower South Island, some cloud and drizzle moves into Fiordland in the evening.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz