A northwesterly airflow covers much of New Zealand on Tuesday, meanwhile a front moves northwards over the South Island during the day, weakening as it goes.

For the upper North Island expect mostly cloudy skies in the west, some sun the further east one goes. The Bay Of Plenty has a mainly sunny day, winds from the southwest.

The lower North Island sees mostly cloudy skies in the west, a mainly sunny day along the east coast with developing high cloud. Northwesterly winds brisk to strong through Cook Strait during the day.

Rain pushes northwards along the West Coast of the South Island during the day, heavy falls at times however rain becoming less intense the further north you go. Sunny areas and some high cloud out east, a few showers about the lower South Island clear around midday then a few sunny spells break through in the afternoon.

Brisk to strong westerly winds about coastal parts of the lower South Island during the day.

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