A ridge lies over the North Island today while a northwesterly airflow builds over the South Island. Northwesterlies spread to most of New Zealand on Thursday meanwhile a front pushes onto the lower South Island in the evening. This front slowly pushes northwards over the South Island on Friday while a northerly airflow lies over the North Island.

Wednesday

Blue – A cold start for inland parts of the upper South Island and Central North Island, starting out around 1 to 3 degrees in the blue shaded areas below.

Purple – Northeasterly winds becoming gusty about coastal Fiordland from afternoon.

Some fog possible this morning for some North Island regions mainly inland.

Thursday

Blue – Rain becoming heavy about South Westland in the evening then pushing northwards overnight.

Purple – Strong northeasterly winds gusting to gale at times about coastal Fiordland.

A chance of a few fog patches once again about inland parts of the North Island. A cool start inland, perhaps starting out around 2 to 3 degrees in the blue shaded areas below.

Generally warm weather in the east with high cloud increasing over the eastern South Island during the day. Parts of the eastern South Island may reach around 23 degrees.

Friday

Blue – Heavy areas of rain on the West Coast ease in the evening, remaining heavy at times about Buller overnight.

Purple – Brisk to strong northerly winds through Cook Strait during the day.

Chance of a fog patch in the morning about inland Bay Of Plenty.

– 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