A northwesterly airflow builds over the South Island today, a ridge of high pressure lies over the North Island. A northwesterly airflow lies over New Zeland on Wednesday, a front straddles the far south bringing some rain to Southland and Fiordland.

Mostly sunny for the upper North Island today, areas or low cloud or fog possible this morning then clearing. Morning cloud in the east breaks to a mostly sunny afternoon, east to northeast winds. Mostly sunny for the lower western North Island with some high cloud. Cloudy for South Westland, some rain or showers about Fiordland. North of about Greymouth sees sunnier skies. Sunny areas and some high cloud in the east.

A mix of mid and high level cloud across the North Island on Wednesday, mainly dry. Hot afternoon temperatures for the eastern North Island. Heayv rain about Fiordland slowly moves northwards during the day, mainly dry in the east with some high cloud. Some rain moves into Southland around midday then a few spots may pass through Otago in the evening.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz