Today sees a ridge slowly make some headway over the South Island while strong south to southeasterly winds ease later in the day over the North Island. Saturday finally sees a ridge covering most of New Zealand, southeasterlies about the eastern North Island ease. However it only hangs around for a day, a front is due on Sunday.

Friday

Blue – Heavy rain moves out of the Wairarapa this morning and into Hawkes Bay then Gisborne this afternoon.

Heavy frosts about the lower South Island this morning.

White – A few remaining snow flurries down to 600 or perhaps 500m about Canterbury gradually easing during the day and mostly clearing by evening. Accumulations will be fairly limited if not non existent, snow is not heavy.

Snow sticking above 700 to 800m about Hawkes Bay / Gisborne. Snow to 600m about the Central North Island / Wairarapa and Wellington.

Purple – South to southeasterly winds will be strong over much of the North Island, easing in the evening. Winds strongest along the east coast and about western Northland / Auckland with gales likely.

Saturday

Blue – Finally a simple outlook, frosty!! Look out for very frosty conditions especially about much of the South Island and Central North Island. Black ice potential will be out there so take care.

Sunday

Well that didn’t last long, a front is due to push northwards over the South Island during the day, reaching the lower North Island overnight. A frosty start for the upper South Island and much of the North Island especially inland. Heavy rain moves northwards along the West Coast of the South Island during the day.

Northeasterlies gusty about the South Westland coastline in the morning then easing. Northwesterlies gusty through Cook Strait from 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