A ridge lies over much of the country on Friday however it does weaken from afternoon for the South Island as a northwesterly airflow develops. A front moves onto the lower South Island later in the evening.

Mainly sunny for the upper North Island with light southwesterly winds. A similar story for the lower North Island in the west, mostly sunny however winds are light west to northwesterly winds.

Morning cloud and any early showers break to mostly sunny weather for most, Gisborne sees showers gradually ease then clearing in the evening. Southwesterlies winds die out in the evening.

Sunny spells for Wellington with north to northwesterly winds.

Mainly sunny with light winds about Nelson and Marlborough. Sunny with east to northeasterly winds about Canterbury. A frosty start inland for these regions, not a major frost however lows may dip down to -2 degrees celsius for some.

Becoming mostly cloudy in the morning for the West Coast with some drizzle from afternoon, turning to rain in the evening for South Westland. Rain pushes northwards overnight. Light winds, a west to southwest change later in the day / overnight.

Sunny areas and increasing high cloud for Southland and Otago, northwesterlies change gusty southwest in the evening about Southland then overnight further north bringing rain then showers. Southwesterly winds may be strong about the coast.

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