A front pushes northwards over the South Island on Wednesday meanwhile a ridge weakens further north.

Mostly sunny for the upper North Island on Wednesday, perhaps a few morning showers about northeastern fringes clearing away. Cloud increases about the lower western North Island from morning, a shower or two possible from afternoon, a mainly sunny day in the east.

Heavy rain pushes northwards along the West Coast during the day, it will ease though as it moves northwards. Mainly dry in the east, morning rain moves through Southland, Otago around midday then pushing into Canterbury by evening.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz