Northwesterlies build today ahead of a front which moves onto the South Island this afternoon reaching the lower North Island overnight. This front continues to track over the North Island on Wednesday with a strong westerly quarter airflow developing in its wake.

A settled start for much of the North Island today, quite cloudy though and there may be a light shower or two Waikato southwards in the west. Mainly sunny weather in the east. Showers for the South Islands West Coast, heavy rain about South Westland slowly moves northwards during the day. Mainly dry in the east then rain / showers moves into Southland around midday, Otago during the afternoon and Canterbury in the evening.

Areas of rain or showers for the whole western side of New Zealand on Wednesday, only a few spots of rain possible in the morning for the eastern North Island then expect a mainly sunny afternoon. Mainly dry for the South Islands East Coast however a front developing in the morning brings some rain to Southland, then pushing into Otago in the afternoon however only a few showers at that point. Winds will be quite strong from the west or southwest about the lower South Island during the day.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz