An anticyclone lies in the Tasman Sea on Wednesday continuing to spread a ridge over New Zealand.

A mostly sunny morning for Northland through to Waikato on Wednesday, some cloud may drift in from afternoon. A sunny day for the Bay Of Plenty. In the west Taranaki southwards through to Kapiti expect cloudy areas and some sun at times. Gisborne sees a few morning showers then sunny areas break through from afternoon, Hawkes Bay is mostly sunny after morning cloud, sunny for the Wairarapa.

Some cloud for the western South Island with the odd shower about Fiordland turning to rain at times from afternoon. Sunnier in the east with a touch of high cloud from afternoon. Southland has a dry morning then some rain moves in for the afternoon, easing back in the evening.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz