Anticyclonic for much of New Zealand today however there will be a westerly quarter airflow moving over the country. A northwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand on Wednesday, a cold southerly change moves onto the lower South Island early in the morning then pushing northwards during the day.

A mix of sun and cloud for the western side of the North Island today, sunnier conditions out east. A similar story for the South Island although cloud will be thicker in the west with a light shower or two possible at times. Warm afternoon temperatures for eastern New Zealand with temperatures getting into the high teens, perhaps even early twenties for Gisborne.

Cloudy areas for the western North Island on Wednesday, especially about Taranaki southwards where there may be a light shower or two at times. Longer areas of sun Auckland northwards. Mostly sunny for the Bay Of Plenty and along the east coast. Heavy rain slowly pushes northwards along the West Coast of the South Island during the day, a cold southerly change in the east brings rain which reaches North Canterbury in the evening. Snow lowers to 300m in the afternoon for Southland, 500m about Otago in the evening.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz