A northwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand today, a cold southerly change moves onto the lower South Island early this morning then pushing northwards during the day. A low pressure system moves onto Central New Zealand later on Thursday bringing unsettled weather for most regions.

Cloudy areas for the western North Island today, there may be a light shower or two at times. Longer areas of sun for Northland. Mostly sunny for the Bay Of Plenty and along the east coast. Heavy rain slowly pushes northwards along the West Coast of the South Island during today, a cold southerly change in the east brings rain which reaches North Canterbury later in the evening. Snow lowers to 400m in the afternoon for Southland, 500m about Otago in the evening, 500m overnight for South Canterbury and 800m overnight about North Canterbury.

A dry morning for the upper North Island on Thursday then showers spread from the north afternoon onwards, chance of an isolated heavy fall. Showers ease in the evening then overnight rain pushes in from the west. The odd shower for the lower western North Island, more so from afternoon then rain pushes in from the west overnight. Mainly dry in the east, a few spots of rain may spread into the Wairarapa at times. Heavy rain for the western / upper South Island eases from afternoon. Rain eases in the afternoon for Canterbury northwards in the east, long dry spells develop then overnight rain picks up again. Cloudy areas for Otago, only the chance of a shower now and then. Mostly sunny for Southland, cold wintry SW winds push in overnight with showers and snow flurries to 300m.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz