A southeasterly airflow picks up over the South Island and lower North Island on Thursday while low pressure hangs over the upper North Island.

A risk of morning fog for the upper North Island then sunny spells, isolated showers possible especially in the afternoon. Areas of fog may form again overnight. Light winds.

Showers for the lower western North Island, becoming drier in the evening. Parts of Taranaki (more so in the north) may be fairly dry in the morning. Southeasterly winds. Showers for the east coast, easing in the evening then clearing overnight. Rain south of Taranaki may be heavy for a time. Southwesterlies ease later in the day.

Patchy rain or drizzle, fresh southerly winds, strong at times through Cook Strait.

Patchy showers or drizzle for Nelson and Marlborough, mainly morning. Southeasterly winds. Drizzle then some rain at times from afternoon in Canterbury, southerlies freshen.

High cloud for the West Coast, areas of mid level cloud about Buller. Southeasterly winds. Mostly cloudy about Southland and Otago, risk of a drizzle patch or two. Coastal Otago has a higher risk of drizzle. East to southeasterly winds.