A low pressure system sits west of New Zealand in the Tasman Sea, surrounding this low is a huge area of high pressure. The low brings showery activity to most of the country on Wednesday.

A mix of showers and sunny spells for most of the North Island on Wednesday, showers becoming heavy in the afternoon (more so in the east from Northland right through down to Wairarapa) bringing a chance of thunder then easing later in the evening.

Mostly cloudy for the eastern South Island with patchy rain or drizzle, the West Coast has cloudy areas and the odd shower. Showers becoming heavy in the afternoon about Buller with a chance of thunder then easing later in the evening. Southland and Central Otago are mostly cloudy and mainly dry, still the chance of a shower or two at times.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz