A front pushes northwards over the South Island on Friday reaching the western North Island in the evening. Expect a strong preceding northerly airflow.

Sunny spells and increasing cloud for the upper North Island, chance of a shower from afternoon then late evening rain possibly heavy before easing overnight as gusty northerlies (strong about coastal areas) change westerly.

Sunny spells for the lower Western North Island, cloud thickens in the evening then expect some overnight rain. Taranaki is mostly cloudy with the odd shower, late evening rain with heavy falls for a time then easing overnight. Gusty northerlies change westerly overnight. Mostly sunny along the east coast with high cloud thickening from evening, overnight spots of rain. Breezy north to northwesterly winds, gusty about the Wairarapa.

Mostly cloudy for Wellington with some evening rain, strong to gale northerly winds.

Cloudy about Nelson and Marlborough with strong north to northwesterly winds developing by midday, winds may gust to gale at times in the afternoon and evening. Scattered rain develops by midday for Nelson, the odd spot may spread into Marlborough, a greater chance of rain in the evening then conditions ease overnight.

Thick high cloud for Canterbury, brisk to strong northerly winds tend more northeast near the coast. Winds may rise to gale at times especially inland. Winds ease later in the evening then changing southwest for a time.

Heavy rain about South Westland moves into North Westland during the afternoon, easing later in the evening. Brisk to strong northerlies change lighter westerly later on. Rain for Southland with southwesterly winds developing in the morning, rain clears later in the evening. Otago has thick high cloud with north to northwesterly winds, late afternoon or evening rain with a southwest change.