A northerly airflow increases today ahead of a deep intense low which moves over the South Island later this evening. The flow changes to the southwest on Wednesday with a cold front clearing off to the northeast of the North Island in the morning. A westerly airflow on Thursday with a front moving onto the lower South Island in the evening.

Tuesday

Blue – Heavy rain moves onto the West Coast of the South Island from later this afternoon or evening. Rain may become torrential then easing overnight. Rain may be heavy for a time about Southland and Central Otago overnight also.

Heavy rain moves into Taranaki overnight or perhaps more towards dawn on Wednesday.

Purple – Northerlies strengthen over many parts of the South Island especially from late afternoon or evening where winds may rise to gale especially about the upper South Island and through Cook Strait. Overnight strong southwesterlies develop about coastal parts of the lower South Island.

Yellow – Temperatures reaching into the low to mid twenties in the afternoon for the eastern North Island.

Wednesday

Blue – Rain passing through the upper / western North Island may be heavy early in the morning however quickly easing.

Purple – West to Southwesterly winds gusty for many coastal parts of the South Island in the morning then easing.

Thursday

Showers may be heavy about Fiordland in the morning then spreading a little further northwards during the afternoon. West to northwesterly winds gusty about many parts of the South Island especially in the afternoon, winds strongest about coastal Southland. Northerlies through Cook Strait become gusty in the afternoon then ease later in the evening.

– 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