An anticyclone sits in the Tasman Sea on Friday directing a southwesterly airflow over New Zealand, winds will start to back off for most in the south and west later in the day.

For most of the western North Island expect a mix of sun and cloud with breezy southwesterly winds. Out east conditions are mainly sunny and dry with light winds in the morning then tending southerly in the afternoon.

Showers for the West Coast of the South Island, Southland and parts of Otago mostly clearing in the evening, mainly dry elsewhere with mostly sunny conditions.

Strong westerlies about the lower South Island (gales about coastal Southland) easing later in the day.

Not all regions and towns have been mentioned above. For specific 10 day information for your city, town, rural community or island please see the 1500 forecasts on our homepage!

– Aaron Wilkinson, WeatherWatch.co.nz