A southwestely airflow lies over New Zealand on Wednesday with a cold front clearing off to the northeast of the North Island in the morning.

Rain (possibly heavy) for the upper North Island, easing to the odd shower before midday and clearing then sunny spells develop. North to northwest winds change southwest early in the morning. Early heavy rain eases to showers which clear around midday for the lower western North Island, sunny spells increase from afternoon. Gusty west to southwesterly winds (strong about Taranaki) ease later in the day.

Morning rain for the east coast then sunny areas increase from afternoon, gusty northerlies change westerly in the morning. Morning rain about Wellington clears then sunny areas increase, strong to gale northwesterly winds gradually ease.

Any early showers clear Nelson / Marlborough then becoming mainly sunny in the morning, gusty westerlies ease in the afternoon. Morning showers clear Canterbury with gusty southwesterly winds for a time then dying out, a sunny afternoon with light winds tending northeast near the coast.

Showers and sunny spells along the West Coast, fresh west to southwesterly winds. Showers about Southland, dry spells at times. Brisk westerlies becoming strong in the afternoon. Otago sees morning showers clear then sunny spells develop, gusty west to southwesterly winds ease in the evening.