A west to northwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand on Thursday, conditions may become unstable about the western North Island.

Showers about for the upper North Island, some might be heavy with the chance of a thunderstorm in the west especially in the lead up to midday then gradually easing from afternoon. A chance of some sun breaking through now and then also. West to northwesterly winds.

Cloudy areas about the lower western North Island, a period of showers in the afternoon. Taranaki sees rain for much of the day with the chance of a few heavy falls at times (perhaps even some lightning / thunder). Northwesterly winds.

Any early spots of rain clear along the east coast then mostly sunny with some high cloud, northwesterly winds. Sunny spells and a few showers for Wellington, breezy north to northwesterly winds.

Mostly sunny with some high cloud about Marlborough, cloud a little more frequent about Nelson with a chance of a shower or two. North to northwesterly winds. A mix of sun and cloud in Canterbury, light winds tend southwesterly for a time.

Cloudy areas and the odd shower along the West Coast, long dry spells also especially about South Westland. Light northeasterlies. Sunny areas and some cloud about Southland and Otago, rain moves into Southland mid afternoon then Otago later in the evening as southwesterly winds freshen.