A front pushes off the top of the South Island on Thursday morning then onto the lower North Island, this front clears the upper North Island by evening. A strong northwesterly airflow changes westerly once the front moves through. The rest of South Island meanwhile has a strong westerly airflow that then changes colder southwest during the afternoon and evening especially along the east coast bringing unstable conditions.

Mostly cloudy for the upper North Island, rain develops late morning or around midday then eases in the afternoon as gusty northwesterly winds change southwest. Northwesterlies ahead of the front brisk to strong along the western coastline in the morning. Sunny spells break through during the afternoon as showers ease.

Rain for the lower North Island in the west early morning, rain may be heavy at times then eases by midday as strong to gale northwesterly winds change westerly. The east coast is mainly dry with thick high cloud and strong northwesterly winds, severe gales possible about the Wairarapa. Mid to late morning a westerly change moves through the Wairarapa bringing showers, the odd spot of rain further north during the afternoon as this change moves through. Temperatures reaching into the mid 20’s about Hawkes Bay and Gisborne before the change.

Wellington sees morning rain ease then clear, gale to severe gale northwesterly winds ease later in the day changing southerly overnight with rain.

Early heavy rain for North Westland eases to showers, gusty west to southwesterly winds. Nelson and Marlborough (especially in the west) morning heavy rain clears then sunny spells increase as strong northwesterly winds change westerly. Southerlies creep into Marlborough later in the evening with some further rain.

Canterbury sees early spots of rain clear then sun breaking through, strong to gale northwesterly winds gradually ease. Late afternoon / early evening a southwest change moves through bringing further showers, some of which may be heavy with thunderstorms and hail (especially inland). These showers clear overnight.

Otago and Southland see gale to severe gale WNW winds change strong southwest during the morning, gale to severe gale southwesterly winds likely about coastal areas. Rain in the morning with the odd heavy fall then easing to showers in the afternoon.

Blue – Heavy form of precipitation.
Purple – Strong winds
Yellow – Temperatures around the mid 20 degree mark or over.

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