A large low pressure system brings unsettled weather to most of New Zealand today, it may appear calm in the morning for much of the North Island then conditions deteriorate this afternoon. A broad low pressure system lies over New Zealand on Wednesday, dry for many in the morning then showers move in during the afternoon. The West Coast of the South Island minus Buller has a mainly dry day.

Dry this morning for many North Island regions then showers develop in the afternoon, some becoming heavy with thunderstorms and hail then easing later in the evening. Winds mostly light tending onshore in the afternoon. A dry morning north of Banks Peninsula in the South Island, showers then develop in the afternoon (some may be heavy) before easing later in the evening. Areas of rain south of Banks Peninsula in the east with heavy falls possible at times especially about eastern Otago, rain may even become torrential at times this afternoon about eastern Otago. Snow to 500m about the lower South Island lifts during the day.

Many dry regions in the morning for Wednesday then showers move in during the afternoon, some may become heavy with a risk of thunder. Winds mostly from the northerly quarter over the North Island and easterly quarter for the South Island. For the West Coast of the South Island conditions are mainly dry for most of the day south of Greymouth apart for the risk of an early clearing shower.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz