A southwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand on Wednesday, within this flow a cold change moves northwards pushing up the eastern side of the country during the day.

For the upper North Island expect cloud to break to sunny spells in the afternoon, winds brisk from the southwest perhaps even strong at times about Auckland. There may be a brief shower or two about also otherwise mainly dry.

For the lower North Island in the west, morning cloud breaks to sunny spells, winds brisk to strong from the WSW then tending southerly later in the evening. Risk of a shower or two about otherwise mainly dry.

The eastern North Island is mainly sunny, winds from the west tend to the southwest in the afternoon then freshening later in the evening with showers. Temperatures getting into the mid 20’s during the afternoon. Wellington starts the day with some sun then a strong afternoon southerly change brings showers.

Morning showers for the West Coast of the South Island then sunny spells from afternoon, breezy southwesterly winds. Nelson is mainly sunny for much of the day, chance of a late evening shower. A brisk to strong southwest change pushes into Canterbury late morning then Marlborough during the afternoon bringing showers, showers may be heavy about Canterbury with the risk of hail and perhaps even a thunderstorm. Showers ease later in the evening then clear overnight.

Snow possible about the eastern Canterbury high country down to 600m for a time.

Showers, some may be heavy with small hail for Southland and Otago then clearing in the evening. Cold southwesterlies strong about the coast. Snow flurries down to 500m on the ranges.

Overnight conditions becoming quite cold about the inner South Island, perhaps a light frost by dawn on Thursday.

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