A ridge of high pressure covers most of New Zealand today, an easterly airflow moving around this ridge pushes over the North Island during the day while a northerly airflow lies over the South Island. And finally a front affects the lower South Island. This front moves northwards over the South Island on Wednesday while a slim ridge of high pressure holds on further north.

A few isolated showers for the upper North Island today, more so from afternoon, there is even the low risk of an isolated heavy fall or two. Calmer and sunnier conditions for the western and lower North Island. Rain for Fiordland with heavy falls possible. Drier in the east with some high cloud although some rain moves into Southland during the afternoon and perhaps reaching parts of Otago in the evening.

Isolated showers and sunny spells for many North Island regions on Wednesday, showers are more likely in the afternoon especially the southwestern corner where one or two could become heavy with a thunderstorm. Heavy rain pushes northwards along the West Coast of the South Island during the day, easing in behind with a southwest change. Rain also moves north along the east coast, rain may become fairly persistent / heavy about Southland and Otago from late afternoon then easing overnight. South to southwesterly winds freshen about the lower South Island from afternoon becoming strong in the evening about coastal areas.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz