Strong northwesterlies lie over New Zealand today, a cold front pushes northwards over the South Island reaching the western North Island later this evening. Southwesterlies ease over the country on Wednesday.

Sunny areas and some high cloud for the North Island today, cloud a little more persistent during the day about Taranaki and Kapiti with the chance of a drizzle patch. Showers move onto the southwestern North Island this evening. Rain for the west and south of the South Island is heavy in areas, especially on the West Coast, rain pushes northwards into Canterbury later this afternoon / evening. Rain eases for the South Island overnight.

Some cloud for the western North Island on Wednesday, may be a few morning showers in the southwest. Cloud about Wairarapa (chance of a light morning shower also) moves northwards into Hawkes Bay and Gisborne in the evening. Showers about the upper South Island clear away during the morning, perhaps lingering till evening in the west. Mostly sunny for the lower South Island, cloud and a few showers move into Fiordland during the afternoon and Southland by evening.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz