A frontal feature moves out of the Tasman Sea on Thursday pushing over the North Island afternoon / evening, a ridge lies over the South Island. An anticyclone lies over the country on Friday then on New Years Eve northwesterlies build over the South Island while a ridge hangs on in the north.

Thursday

No big issues of note, the upper North Island has another fairly cloudy day though, a few brief showers pass through late afternoon / evening then clear away. Canterbury is looking cloudy and drizzly, drizzle starts to break from afternoon. Marlborough may start off with some sun, cloud thickens towards midday with the chance of a drizzle patch this afternoon.

Friday

Calm conditions due to an anticyclone. Temperatures in the high teen to low twenty range for most, perhaps hitting the mid twenties about inland parts of the upper North Island.

Saturday

Blue – Rain moves onto the West Coast of the South Island in the morning, heavy at times especially afternoon onwards.

Purple – Northwesterlies through Cook Strait becoming strong from afternoon, gusting to gale at times. Northwesterlies about inland Canterbury / Marlborough becoming brisk to strong in the evening.

Yellow – Temperatures getting into the mid 20’s for eastern parts of New Zealand in the afternoon.

– 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