A low deepens to sit just west of the country today, flinging a cold front over the upper South Island and North Island bringing in some heavy rain, possible thunderstorms for the North Island too. Most of the lower South Island is wet also, slowly clearing about Southland from afternoon. A southwesterly airflow lies over the country on Wednesday.

Showers turning to rain late morning for the upper North Island, rain may be heavy with possible thunderstorms then easing late afternoon or evening as gusty northerlies tend northwest. Rain about Taranaki spreads to other lower western North Island areas late afternoon or evening. High cloud in the east then rain spreads from the west in the evening. Rain about Nelson and Marlborough will be heavy at times, especially this morning then easing overnight. Rain for the rest of the South Island, possibly heavy about the Alps. Morning showers for Southland then drying out from afternoon.

Showers for the upper North Island on Wednesday then drying out from afternoon, rain for the lower and eastern North Island may be heavy then easing from afternoon. Rain may not ease about the east coast till evening. Heavy morning rain about Nelson and Marlborough then easing, a mix of sun and cloud elsewhere with showers. Late afternoon / evening isolated showers may become heavy with small hail about Canterbury through to Nelson / Marlborough then clearing at night.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz