A ridge lies over the North Island today while northwesterlies strengthen over the South Island, a front pushes onto the lower South Island in the evening then moves northwards overnight. This front slowly moves northwards over the upper South Island on Thursday pushing onto the lower North Island later in the evening / overnight. Cold upper air moves over the lower South Island from afternoon. A southwesterly airflow lies over the country on Friday.

Wednesday

Blue – Rain becoming heavy about South Westland from late afternoon then further north overnight.

Purple – Northwesterly winds will be fairly gusty for much of the day across most eastern South Island areas, winds through Cook Strait often gusting to gale at times for most of the day. Through the inner South Island Canterbury northwards winds become strongest overnight gusting to gale at times.

Strong northeasterlies about coastal Fiordland ease later in the evening.

Yellow – Temperatures getting into the mid to late 20’s about eastern New Zealand during the afternoon.

Thursday

Blue – Rain about northwestern parts of the South Island eases from afternoon, this rain band gradually moves northwards onto the lower North Island in the west later in the evening / overnight however the rain will have weakened.

Late afternoon / evening isolated heavy showers are possible for eastern Otago through into South Canterbury, also parts of the upper North Island. There is a chance of thunderstorms in these showers, hail also for the showers about the lower South Island.

Purple – Gusty northwesterlies about the inner South Island Canterbury northwards ease during the afternoon, strong northwesterlies through Cook Strait ease in the evening.

Yellow – Temperatures getting into the high 20’s about the east of the North Island in the afternoon.

Friday

No issues

– 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