Southwesterlies ease over the North Island on Wednesday, meanwhile west to northwest winds build over the South Island ahead of a cold front which hits Southland around midday then pushing northwards to reach Cook Strait around midnight.

The odd shower for the western North Island on Wednesday, mainly sunny conditions in the east.

Rain or showers for the West Coast of the South Island. Mainly dry for Nelson and Marlborough then risk of a shower later in the evening. Rain hits the lower South Island early afternoon then reaching Canterbury in the evening with a gusty southwest change, perhaps reaching up to gale along the coast. Rain mostly clears in the the east overnight.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz