A ridge lies over the North Island on Wednesday while northwesterlies strengthen over the South Island, a front pushes onto the lower South Island in the evening then moves northwards overnight.

For the upper North Island expect mostly sunny weather, cloud may be a little more prevalent after midday with the risk of an isolated shower about Northland and a low chance of a shower about the Waikato late afternoon / evening. Winds from the north or northeast.

A mainly sunny day for the lower North Island, west to northwesterly winds in the west and north to northeasterly winds in the east.

Wellington is mainly sunny with northwesterlies strong at times from afternoon, a risk of winds gusting to gale at times.

For the West Coast of the South Island, the odd light shower about Fiordland turns to rain late afternoon becoming heavy then moving northwards later in the evening / overnight. The east coast sees mostly sunny conditions and high cloud gradually thickening, winds from the northwest becoming strong inland overnight for some.

A warm day for eastern parts of the country, temperatures getting into the mid to late 20’s.

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