Southwesterlies ease over the North Island today, 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. This front continues to push northwards over the North Island during Thursday however it weakens as it does.

The odd shower for the western North Island today (especially this afternoon), mainly sunny conditions in the east. Rain or showers for the West Coast of the South Island. Mainly dry for Nelson and Marlborough with some high cloud. Early spots of rain clear the lower South Island then expect some high cloud, widespread 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 may have eased to showers by the time this change reaches Canterbury. Rain or showers mostly clears in the the east overnight.

A few showers about the eastern and upper North Island clear on Thursday morning then sunny areas increase, winds from the south or southwest, tending easterly in the afternoon along the east coast. A few showers about Fiordland, gradually spreading northwards along the West Coast later in the afternoon or evening. Morning cloud for Nelson and Marlborough then becoming mostly sunny. Canterbury has a mainly sunny day, light winds tend easterly in the afternoon. Showers for Southland with brisk to strong westerly winds, some rain possible for a time in the evening. Otago has sunny areas and increasing high cloud, a few spits or showers later in the day with westerlies tending southwest (becoming strong about the coast in the evening).

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz