Westerlies lie over the North Island today while a northwesterly airflow strengthens over the South Island. A front pushes off the South Island in the morning on Thursday then moves over the North Island in the afternoon, strong northwesterlies ahead of the front tending a little more westerly in behind. A west to southwesterly airflow lies over the country on Friday.

Wednesday

Blue – Rain moves into South Westland from evening then pushes northwards overnight.

Purple – From later in the evening and overnight expect brisk to strong northwesterly winds to develop in the areas marked below. Winds may gust to gale for inland Canterbury / Marlborough, Cook Strait and about coastal Southland.

Thursday

Blue – Early heavy rain moves off the northwest of the South Island then becoming heavy about the west of the North Island in the afternoon for a time, easing evening.

From afternoon heavy showers and possible thunderstorms move onto South Westland then gradually move northwards. Heavy showers, thunderstorms and hail possible from afternoon about Southland also.

Purple – West to northwesterly winds will be brisk / strong in the areas marked below.

Friday

Purple – Brisk to strong westerly winds about the lower North Island in the west and about coastal parts of the lower South Island. Winds about coastal Southland may gust to gale at times.

– Please note, the idea behind this update is to focus on the main weather highlights, which is why not all regions are mentioned. 

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