A west to northwesterly airflow builds over New Zealand on Wednesday then a front moves onto the lower South Island in the afternoon then gradually pushing northwards through the evening and overnight. Winds change southerly behind the front.

Sunny spells about the upper North Island with a shower or two possible, fairly dry otherwise. The Bay Of Plenty stays mainly dry and sunny. West to southwesterly winds.

A mix of sun and cloud about the lower North Island in the west, cloud thickens later in the evening. Chance of a shower or two from afternoon otherwise mainly dry.

Sunny along the east coast with light winds. Mainly sunny about Wellington then cloud thickens from evening, freshening north to northwesterly winds.

Mainly sunny about Nelson and Marlborough with a touch of high cloud, thickening in the evening. Light winds in the morning then afternoon north to northwesterly winds. A mainly sunny day for Canterbury with some high cloud gradually increasing, afternoon north to northeasterly winds.

A few showers along the West Coast, heavy rain moves into South Westland during the afternoon then pushes further northwards later in the evening / overnight. Freshening northwesterly winds.

Sunny areas and some high cloud about Southland / Otago, rain develops in the afternoon about Southland then pushing into Otago during the evening / overnight with a southwest change. Rain may be heavy for a time about Otago overnight although easing before dawn. Rain eases with long dry spells developing in the evening about Southland. Some snow may lower to 500m before rain eases.

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