A ridge brings a period of settled weather for New Zealand on Wednesday, however not for long as a cold front pushes onto the lower South Island later in the afternoon.

Mostly sunny for the upper North Island on Wednesday, there may be a few clearing morning showers for Northland. Morning showers clear Hawkes Bay / Gisborne then sun increases. Mostly sunny in the west Taranaki southwards then cloud increases in the evening, rain moves in overnight.

Mostly sunny for a majority of the South Island with developing high cloud, morning frosts are possible especially for inland areas. Rain moves into Fiordland around midday then pushes northwards in the evening. Rain moves into Southland late afternoon then Otago in the evening, Canterbury overnight with gusty southwest winds, strong about the coast.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz